11th Circuit Allows 'Alligator Alcatraz' Everglades Detention Facility to Remain Open

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit vacated a preliminary injunction that had blocked ICE's 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention facility near the Florida Everglades, ruling the district court 'abused its discretion.' The facility — a converted warehouse with capacity for 1,500 detainees in an environmentally sensitive area — was challenged by the Friends of the Everglades, Center for Biological Diversity, and Miccosukee Tribe for bypassing required environmental review. The 11th Circuit's ruling allows the facility to operate while litigation continues, representing a significant legal win for the administration's detention expansion agenda.