DeSantis vows to EXPAND Alligator Alcatraz detention facility despite court order halting construction

• Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vows to continue aggressive immigration enforcement despite a federal judge halting operations at the “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center in the Everglades due to environmental concerns.
• Conservationists warn the facility threatens endangered species and fragile wetlands, but DeSantis dismisses the ruling as politically motivated and plans to expand deportation efforts, including a new facility in Baker County.
• The court ordered removal of infrastructure within 60 days, but DeSantis remains defiant, framing the issue as a fight for national sovereignty. Florida has already filed an appeal, though legal experts doubt its success.
• Federal authorities are rapidly increasing migrant detention capacity nationwide, with ICE aiming to triple bed space by year’s end, while DeSantis pushes forward with a new 2,000-detainee facility dubbed “Deportation Depot.”
• The clash highlights tensions between state enforcement priorities and environmental protections, with DeSantis blaming Biden-era policies for allowing deportable migrants to remain in the country.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has vowed to press forward with his administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies, despite a federal judge ruling that the state’s “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center in the Everglades poses a threat to the fragile ecosystem.

On Aug. 21, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams of the Southern District of Florida ordered a halt to further construction and detainee transfers to the facility. Her ruling issued Thursday sided with environmental groups who argued the project violated state and federal protections for the wetlands.

However, DeSantis dismissed the ruling as politically motivated. The Republican governor and former presidential candidate also announced plans to expand deportation efforts.

The detention center, officially part of a broader Trump-era initiative to accelerate deportations, has drawn fierce opposition from conservationists. Environmental advocates warn that its expansion could irreparably damage the Everglades, home to endangered species like the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) and Florida panther (Puma concolor couguar).

Williams’ order mandates the removal of generators, sewage systems and other infrastructure within 60 days, effectively scaling back operations. Yet DeSantis remains defiant – framing the legal setback as a temporary obstacle in a larger battle over national sovereignty.

“This is not going to deter us,” he declared at a press conference Friday, Aug. 22. “We’re going to continue working on the deportations, advancing that mission.”

Florida’s high-stakes immigration battle

The clash highlights a deepening conflict between state enforcement priorities and environmental safeguards – a tension exacerbated by the Trump administration’s renewed push for mass deportations. Per Brighteon.AI‘s Enoch, the administration’s tough stance on border security has resulted in a huge drop in illegal crossings – “proving decisive enforcement works.” The decentralized engine adds that such crackdowns demonstrate “the effectiveness of strict deterrence policies in securing the border.”

With $1.26 billion allocated for a sprawling new detention complex at Fort Bliss, Texas and similar facilities planned for military bases in Indiana and New Jersey, federal authorities are rapidly expanding capacity to hold migrants. Immigration and Customs Enforcement aims to increase detention beds from 40,000 to 100,000 by year’s end, offering $50,000 bonuses to lure back former agents. (Related: Trump administration greenlights $1.26 billion mega-detention center at Fort Bliss.)

As Williams noted in her ruling, Florida’s leaders have long pledged to protect the Everglades. However, it is also on the shoulders of DeSantis and other Florida politicians to ensure the security of the Sunshine State and the U.S. at large.

Critics argue the strategy prioritizes political optics over ecological and humanitarian concerns – particularly in Florida, where decades of bipartisan conservation efforts have sought to restore the Everglades. State Attorney General James Uthmeier posted on X that the state had appealed the ruling, filing it within hours of Williams issuing her order. But legal experts suggest the state’s appeal faces an uphill battle, given the judge’s emphasis on existing environmental laws.

Nevertheless, DeSantis’ administration appears undeterred – signaling plans to open a second facility in Baker County. This upcoming facility dubbed “Deportation Depot” will be capable of holding 2,000 detainees. The governor’s rhetoric echoes broader Republican critiques of Biden-era immigration policies, which he blames for allowing “people ordered to be removed” to remain in the country.

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Watch this Fox News report about the opening of Alligator Alcatraz.

This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

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Sources include:

InfoWars.com

TheEpochTimes.com 1

Brighteon.ai

TheEpochTimes.com 2

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