Federal Judge Faces Crucial Test Over Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Detention Center’s Legal and Environmental Legitimacy

The battleground over America’s immigration enforcement is now literally in the swamps. In Miami, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams heard arguments that could halt construction of the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz,” an immigration detention center placed deep within Florida’s sensitive Everglades wetlands.This isn’t just about preserving delicate ecosystems; it cuts to the heart of national sovereignty and lawful governance. Environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe insist the project violates a 55-year-old federal environmental statute requiring agencies to evaluate, minimize, and allow public input on impacts to critical habitats. Yet this detention facility proceeded without such oversight—raising urgent questions: When enforcing federal...