A federal judge appointed by former President Barack Obama has paused construction for two weeks at "Alligator Alcatraz" after a challenge from environmentalist groups.
The immigrant detention center, located in the Florida Everglades, was opened in July and quickly became a polarizing symbol of President Donald Trump's mass deportation push.
Environmental and tribal groups want to shut the facility down, saying it will damage the local wetland ecosystem.
The temporary restraining order from U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams bars additional construction for two weeks while she considers whether to issue a preliminary injunction, which has a larger scope.
The Trump administration says this ruling is another example of activists weaponizing the court system to override Trump's electoral mandate.
“It is another attempt to prevent the president from fulfilling the American people’s mandate for mass deportations,” Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “These environmental activists -- and activist judge -- don’t care about the invasion of our country facilitated by the Biden administration, but the American people do."
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who has championed Trump's deportation push, noted the ruling does not stop immigrants from being detained at the tent facility, which currently houses 3,000.
“Alligator Alcatraz will remain operational, continuing to serve as a force multiplier to enhance deportation efforts,” a spokesperson for the governor said.
State officials argue that "Alligator Alcatraz" will not harm the Everglades, which has been under restoration for decades.
Environmentalists say that federal law requires a review of the environmental impact of the facility, which was built in eight days on an unused airfield.
“We’re pleased that the judge saw the urgent need to put a pause on additional construction, and we look forward to advancing our ultimate goal of protecting the unique and imperiled Everglades ecosystem from further damage caused by this mass detention facility,” said Eve Samples, executive director at Friends of the Everglades.
Florida argues that the National Environmental Policy Act does not apply because the facility is run by the state, but the challengers say federal law does apply because the detention center is being used for federal immigration enforcement.
Green groups such as the Center for Biological Diversity, which is part of the lawsuit against Alligator Alcatraz, have spent years trying to block Trump's border wall.
While environmentalists may have sincere concerns about "Alligator Alcatraz," they have apparently never stopped to consider the environmental damage caused by mass immigration, which has become the main driver of U.S. population growth.
