Major blow for Trump after judge orders the shutdown of Alligator Alcatraz
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that supports HTML5
video
Up Next
Previous Page
Next Page
A judge has ordered Donald Trump’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ in Florida to close down within 60 days.
No new detainees may be brought to the controversial site, in the Florida Everglades, which has faced huge criticism for its poor conditions for prisoners.
The site is surrounded by dangerous wildlife including alligators, pythons and mosquitos, supposedly to prevent detainees from escaping.
District court judge Kathleen Williams has also blocked any further development of the facility, which was built on the site of an airstrip.
She noted that plans for a huge tourist hub were rejected in the 1960s amid fears of the environmental impact of a large airport.
Donald Trump tours the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ in the Florida Everglades (Picture: AP)
District judge Kathleen Williams has ordered the notorious facility to be closed within 60 days (Picture: Reuters)
Environmental groups said the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ threatened the conservation of the natural site (Picture: Getty Images)
Judge Williams said that since then successive Florida governors, senators and presidents had publicly supported conserving the natural site.
‘This order does nothing more than uphold the basic requirements of legislation designed to fulfil those promises’, she said.
The site, designed to hold up to 3,000 prisoners, was seen as a model for detention centres that could facilitate Trump’s plans for mass deportations.
The Detention Center is on the site of an airstrip in the Florida Everglades, surrounded by dangerous wildlife including alligators and pythons (Picture: Reuters)
It has tent structures to house migrants and will cost $450million to operate annually, money which will be reimbursed to the state by federal government.
Just months ago, the first journalists allowed onto the site, reported that thousands of detainees were being crammed into cages and fed limited rations.
Environmental groups who have campaigned for the protection of the Everglades welcomed the ruling.
Eve Samples, executive director of friends of the Everglades, said: ‘This is a landmark victory for the Everglades and countless Americans who believe this imperilled wilderness should be protected, not exploited.’
Judge dismisses part of lawsuit over ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ immigration detention center News By DAVID FISCHER, MIKE SCHNEIDER and FREIDA FRISARO, Associated Press MIAMI (AP) — A federal judge in Miami issued a split decision in a lawsuit over the legal rights of detainees at the “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, dismissing part of the suit and also moving…
49ers Suffer Another Major Blow at Wide Receiver Before 2025 Campaign Sports The San Francisco 49ers are pretty banged up heading into the 2025 campaign, which isn’t what the team wanted to see after injuries prevented their 2024 season from ever truly getting off the ground. One spot that has been hit hard in the early going is wide receiver, and the…
Arsenal change transfer plans after Kai Havertz injury blow Sports Arsenal forward Kai Havertz has suffered an injury blow (Picture Getty) Arsenal are ‘actively exploring the transfer market’ for cover for Kai Havertz after he suffered a worrying knee injury. Havertz, 26, did not train with his teammates in an open session at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday morning. Arsenal…
Napoli monitoring Man Utd striker and Chelsea forward after Romelu Lukaku blow Sports Napoli’s main striker Romelu Lukaku is set for a long spell on the sidelines (Picture: Getty) Napoli are monitoring Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund and Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson after Romelu Lukaku’s injury blow. Lukaku is set for a long spell on the sidelines after suffering a thigh injury in…
Colorado wildfires: Evacuation orders lifted for Crosho fire in western state News Evacuations were lifted Monday night for the Crosho fire burning in Rio Blanco and Routt counties, but areas surrounding the wildfire remain on pre-evacuation notice, according to county officials. The Crosho fire is one of multiple wildfires actively burning on Colorado’s western slope that together have consumed hundreds of miles,…
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
