A federal appeals court panel has put on hold a lower court judge’s order to wind down operations of the immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A federal appeals court panel on Thursday put on hold a lower court judge’s order to end operations indefinitely at the immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”

The three-judge panel in Atlanta decided by a 2-1 vote to stay the federal judge’s order pending the outcome of an appeal, saying it was in the public interest. The ruling will allow the facility to continue holding detainees for the time being.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in Miami issued a preliminary injunction last month ordering operations at the facility to be wound down by the end of October, with detainees transferred to other facilities and equipment and fencing removed.

Williams’ decision was issued in response to a lawsuit brought by Friends of the Everglades, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Miccosukee Tribe, who accused the state and federal defendants of not following federal law requiring an environmental review for the detention center in the middle of sensitive wetlands.

“This is a heartbreaking blow to America’s Everglades and every living creature there, but the case isn’t even close to over,” Elise Bennett, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, said Thursday.

  • Zaktor@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    27·
    8 days ago

    The article author is bad at his job as there’s no mention of the judges that made up this panel. Pretending that the judiciary is just a monolith and the judges identities don’t matter is not a serious worldview for someone who’s supposed to be digging deeper and informing his readers.

    And surprise surprise, here’s the identities of the judges (from ABC News):

    Judges Elizabeth Branch and Barbara Lagoa – both appointees of President Donald Trump – determined that Florida, not the Trump administration, ran Alligator Alcatraz and therefore could not be challenged in federal court using NEPA.

    • pezhore@infosec.pub
      2·
      8 days ago

      I don’t disagree that the judiciary can’t (and shouldn’t) be considered a monolith, but aside from this decision, it’s important to know that several decisions against the administration have come from Republican appointed justices - some even Trump appointees.

      I haven’t read this decision, but if they are saying the original order was based on a federal challenge and this concentration camp could be considered a state owned and operated facility, then contesting based on a federal law wouldn’t apply.

      If we’re a betting person, I would guess this goes up on appeal, or the original plaintiffs would try a different, state statue based challenge.

      • Zaktor@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        4·
        8 days ago

        There’s a reason the judiciary is populated by people rather than computer programs, and it’s because humans are able to cut through the bullshit of a facility being built with state funds for the exclusive use of the federal government with an expectation of reimbursement. Just as many judges have rules the reverse as these two MAGA hacks. Playing shell games isn’t a cheat code.

        And just because other judges sometimes rule against their patrons doesn’t mean those that don’t are just doing what the law tells them.