A federal judge denied a request for a preliminary injunction to close the “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades.
The decision was made because the detainee who brought the request, known as M.A., did not demonstrate he was suffering irreparable harm at the facility.
The big picture: U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek stated the high burden for immediate relief had not been met, though he acknowledged there may be deficiencies at the center.
- M.A.’s lawsuit is one of three federal cases challenging practices at the facility, which was recently established by Governor Ron DeSantis’s administration.
- The lawsuit argues that Florida’s operation of the center violates the requirement for federal control over immigration detention and claims detainees have trouble accessing legal help and are removed from tracking systems.
Zoom out: Another judge previously ordered the facility to wind down due to environmental concerns, but that decision is on hold pending appeal.
- A third lawsuit centers on detainees’ claims of restricted access to attorneys, with issues like lengthy scheduling delays and frequent detainee transfers.
