Environmental groups sue to stop ICE’s “Alligator Alcatraz” near the Everglades, citing urgent ecological risks.

Lawsuit Filed to Block Detention Facility Near Everglades

Environmental organizations have taken legal action to halt the construction of the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz,” a new federal detention center for illegal immigrants near the Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve. The lawsuit, filed Friday in the Southern District of Florida by Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity, contends that federal officials neglected to evaluate the potential ecological impacts as required by law.

The facility, located at the largely unused Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, is slated to house up to 5,000 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees. Work began this week, just days after the Trump administration officially approved the project, transforming the 30-square-mile property. The area is notable for its proximity to sensitive wetlands and the presence of native wildlife, including alligators and pythons, which have drawn particular attention to the site’s security and environmental risks.

According to court documents, plaintiffs allege that authorities bypassed the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by not conducting the mandated environmental reviews before initiating construction. The groups argue that the installation of housing units, construction of sanitation and food service systems, lighting, diesel generators, and the planned use of the runway for detainee transport all pose “clear” threats to wetlands, wildlife habitats, and air and water quality. They assert that feasible alternatives were not considered and that the environmental consequences must be fully assessed before any further action is taken.

Protests erupted Saturday outside the airport, with local Native Americans and environmental advocates demanding protection for their lands from increased pollution and disruption. “The defendants, in their rush to build the center, have unlawfully bypassed the required environmental reviews,” attorneys wrote in their filings.

Officials Defend Project as Lawsuit Proceeds

The Department of Homeland Security has dismissed the legal challenge as a “lazy lawsuit,” arguing the land has been developed for years. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “It ignores the fact that this land has already been developed for a decade.” The lawsuit also claims that Miami-Dade County codes have been violated and questions the authority of Florida Emergency Management to manage such a correctional center.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized in a television interview that the facility’s operation will be temporary, with no permanent infrastructure changes. “It’s all temporary. We’ll set it up, and we’ll break it down. This isn’t our first rodeo. The impact will be zero,” DeSantis said. He described the site as a “force multiplier” for enforcing President Donald Trump’s immigration mandate.

The $450 million facility is state-funded but will receive reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Construction and preparations continue at the site as the lawsuit moves forward in federal court, according to local media reports.

The suit names Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, and Miami-Dade County as defendants. Neither Florida Emergency Management nor ICE immediately responded to requests for comment.

As legal and public scrutiny intensifies, the ultimate fate of “Alligator Alcatraz” may set significant precedents for future federal projects near sensitive environmental regions, highlighting the ongoing tension between border enforcement initiatives and environmental protection laws.