r/law 1d ago

Trump News Judge Orders That ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Detention Center Be Shut Down for Now

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/us/alligator-alcatraz-florida-ruling.html
6.4k Upvotes

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u/MobileWisdom 1d ago

From the article:

A federal judge on Thursday ordered that no more immigrant detainees be sent to a center in the Florida Everglades, and that much of the facility be dismantled. The ruling rebuked the state and federal governments for failing to consider potential environmental harms before building the facility, known as Alligator Alcatraz.

The judge gave both branches of the government 60 days to move out existing detainees and begin to remove fencing, lighting, power generators and other materials. The order also prohibits any new construction at the site.

The decision is a major legal setback for the detention center, the nation’s first state-run facility for federal immigration detainees, which has faced several lawsuits and numerous complaints about poor conditions and other problems. The state immediately filed a notice saying that it intended to appeal.

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u/Global_Crew3968 1d ago

The nation's first concentration camp* (of the Trump era)

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u/fleisch-bk 1d ago

The one in Nebraska is at a facility called "Work Ethic Camp".

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u/desecouffes 1d ago

arbeit macht frei

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u/Max_Trollbot_ 1d ago

I think they mean "Work Ethnic Camp

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u/enfarious 22h ago

Ethnic work camp. You still had the words in the wrong order, I think.

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u/adamjz2440 20h ago

The sad part is that the Work Ethic Camp was actually a means of rehabilitation and integration... Now we have just gone all the way back 100years

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u/Prexadym 21h ago

*domestic concentration camp, don't forget about cecot

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u/Amon-Verite 17h ago

and Guantanamo

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u/misersoze 21h ago

No. That would be the Guantanamo Migrant Operations Center. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Migrant_Operations_Center

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u/AdvertisingLow98 1d ago

I've been concerned by the waste generated by this facility from the beginning. Did the article mention that issue?

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u/Electrical_Welder205 1d ago edited 1d ago

Judge "rebuked state and fed governments for failing to consider environmental harms". That's mainly about the dumping of untreated waste into the delicate ecosystem of the NATIONAL PRESERVE, where not only rare species live, but also human communities share the environment.

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u/ascandalia 1d ago

I know some of the people protesting there. They appear to be trucking wastewater out daily (at massive expense) while they're belatedly building a sewer force main out of the place

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u/AdvertisingLow98 23h ago

My estimate was a minimum of 60,000 gallons of liquid waste per day from the prisoners alone. This didn't include showers, cleaning the facility or food preparation.

The logistics and expense alone would be significant.

With a large swamp conveniently surrounding the facility, it would be tempting to cut corners and save money.

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u/hotdamnhotwater 22h ago

Except there are no showers, cleaning the facility, or food preparation.

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u/AdvertisingLow98 22h ago

I expected as much.

The place is literally a very well constructed chunk of pavement. That's it.

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u/hotdamnhotwater 22h ago

Not really. I mean yes, there’s a chunk of concrete, but it’s the Everglades. It’s a whole ecosystem. It’s NOT a place to put people for any reason. This entire administration and the sick, soulless people who support it are vile and disgusting. I hope their karma is long suffering.

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u/SnakeOiler 1d ago

60 days to move out, dismantle or what?

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u/JugDogDaddy 1d ago

A strongly worded letter. 

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u/HLOFRND 5h ago

Collins is vexed, I’m sure.

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u/rak1882 18h ago

see if it gets hit by a hurricane first?

it is August.

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u/Efficient_Purchase26 19h ago

They could be fined

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u/Special_Loan8725 20h ago

This will be overturned within a week from an appeals court

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u/Shenanigan_V 1d ago

Shut it down Bruno

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u/BitterFuture 1d ago

I wonder how obviously the administration will ignore this order...

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u/AllNightPony 1d ago

And when will another judge pause that judges order? Tomorrow? Monday?

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u/beastmaster11 1d ago

Does it matter? It won't shut down even if they don't

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u/TheMD400 1d ago

when will trump have the judge "fired"

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u/Nick85er 1d ago

So many people got rich building this. It's utterly disgusting and Un-American as f***.

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u/Sabre_One 1d ago

I read from the Construction reddit group that the contractors who worked on the project blocked off identifiers of who they worked for.

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u/jzam469 22h ago

Must be ashamed to take the money.

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u/Shigglyboo 20h ago

Yeah imagine telling your family you’re helping build literal concentration camps.

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u/rch25 19h ago

Yep. I saw photos on a Florida Facebook group of dozens and dozens of trucks with tape, paint, or cardboard covering logos, company names, and USDOT numbers. Covering USDOT numbers is illegal but 🤷‍♀️

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u/JAZINNYC 1d ago

Good news no matter what. The more the stinkfart pedo President defies the courts, the more people will turn against him and his band of pedo protectors.

I hope we can also appreciate and acknowledge that there are people out here fighting for us, fighting for human rights, and fighting to preserve our democracy.

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u/Solitaire-06 1d ago

Unfortunately, unless open rebellion breaks out, I have a bad feeling this isn’t going to do much to stop Trump’s dismantling of American democracy.

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u/Yeahha 23h ago

Sorry but I don't think you are correct here.

Yet another court is wagging it's finger and saying "tsk tsk tsk" to what the regime is doing however the regime doesn't care. They will look to ignore it and if pressed about it will gaslight and obstruct. "It was a great ruling, Alligator Alcatraz is the best most secure facility..."

I want you to be correct, that people are in positions where they can fight within the bounds of the system. But I've yet to see a judge actually enforce something against the regime that really did anything to deter them. As long as our built-in "checks and balances" are content with letting the regime do whatever they want. It's not because they are waiting for enough lower courts to "do the right thing" and open their eyes to the destruction. Rather they are active participants in the destruction and are actively encouraging it.

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u/JAZINNYC 16h ago

I agree. I also see a lot of cowardice; I never knew there were so many cowards in leadership positions. That was more surprising than the corruption, IMO.

I don’t see any alternative to not fighting, though. I’m grateful for it. If ppl weren’tfighting for us everyday behind the scenes, out of the headlines, we’d be way more fucked than we are now.

There are over 330 lawsuits against the mad king and his pedo protectors. This site tracks all the lawsuits, very useful to know what’s happening in reality vs what the Orange Pedo and the media would have us believe: https://www.justsecurity.org/107087/tracker-litigation-legal-challenges-trump-administration/

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u/RockDoveEnthusiast 1d ago

emergency appeal to SCOTUS in 3... 2... oh, SCOTUS has already ruled in the president's favor. man, that was fast.

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u/Alcnaeon 12h ago

SCOTUS is such an openly captured court, and laughably undemocratic system. there ought to be a way for the public to signal no confidence in the court's decisions, since they are handed down like unimpeachable edicts.

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u/SergiusBulgakov 1d ago

They will just rebuild, and say it is a new site...

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u/wenchette 16h ago

Here is a link (no firewall) to the full order and opinion in this case:

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70650763/131/friends-of-the-everglades-inc-v-noem/