Florida appeals to judges closing “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration prison | Florida

state Florida Appealed to the federal judge’s order that the harsh immigration prison in the Florida Everglades was called “crocodile alcatraz” must Closed within the next two monthsthe ruling brakes Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation agenda.

Miami District Court Judge Kathleen Williams said state and federal authorities violated many environmental laws, competing for tent facilities on abandoned airplanes in fragile wetlands.

Since its opening in early July, Trump has touted as the basis for “the most vicious person on the planet” waiting for deportation, and “Alligator Alcatraz” is known for its cruelty. Detainees reported “inhuman” conditions, including extreme calories, insects, and lack of food and functional toilet facilities.

New York State filed a notice of appeal to the 11th Circuit Court of Atlanta Thursday night, within an hour after Williams’ preliminary injunction stopped the intake of new detainees at the facility and a deadline for its removal was 60 days.

Immigration advocates said Friday that after officials worked together to reduce the facility in anticipation, they believe only about 340 detainees were left to be left in camps. authorities Florida It has previously stated that its capabilities will be as high as 3,000.

Defendant attorneys, including the Florida Department of Emergency Management and the federal Department of Homeland Security, will ask the team to continue the order in this case.

They are expected to continue asserting that include requirements for environmental impact research, including the conduct of prisons, the establishment, management and operation of Florida, the use of taxpayer funds, is not applicable, and is not applicable to federal law. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent (ICE).

However, Williams eliminated this argument in her comprehensive 82-page ruling, which is aligned with Trump administration.

“The project was requested by the federal government; established a commitment to federal funding; built in accordance with ice standards; approved working group officials, representing ICE task force officials, who acted in the colors of federal authorities and under the direction and supervision of ICE officials.”

“[It] The sole purpose of existence is to detain and deport people under federal immigration enforcement. Federal agents brought the detainees to the scene and were expelled from federally owned aircraft by federal agents. The court will follow the time-tested motto: “If it walks like a duck, trembles like a duck, and looks like a duck, it is a duck.”

In a press conference on Friday, the coalition of environmental groups that filed the lawsuit said the appeal court would uphold Williams’ closure order “cautiously optimistic.” But it warns that the legal struggle is still in its early stages. The case may eventually end up ending with the U.S. Supreme Court, which has issued many favorable rulings to the Trump administration in recent months.

“We are ready to achieve this motion with the same energy, vitality, law and facts, and we first seek the injunction,” said Paul Schwiep, an attorney for Earthjustice and Miccosooke of Florida of Florida of Florida of Florida of Florida of Florida of Florida of Florida of Florida of Florida of Everglades, who represents Florida Indians.

Curtis Osceola, senior policy advisor for the Miccosukee tribe, welcomes Williams’ questioning of the camp, which is located in a remote area of ​​the Everglades and is surrounded by national reserves and ancestral homes of the tribe.

“The judge kept asking, ‘Why in the Everglades? Can anyone tell me why?’ – No one can answer this clearly from the government,” he said.

“Obviously there is no explanation, except that this is a promotional stunt.”

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who advocates for prisons and Tour with Trump When it opened last month, there was no immediate comment on the ruling. His communications director Alex Lanfranconi released A clever response to x “Deportation will continue until morale improves,” he said Thursday.

Neither the White House nor the Department of Homeland Security commented.

However, Democratic politicians in Florida welcomed the jail order closure.

“It’s damn time,” Congresswoman Frederica Wilson said in a statement. “After my colleagues and I were under great pressure, the Crocodile Taras finally closed.

“From the beginning, it was cruel, careless and destructive and should never be built.”

Maxwell Frost, a member of Congress who visited the camp on Tuesday, called the ruling a “major victory for justice, civil rights and our environment.”

“The Everglades Immigration Detention Center is nothing more than a state-sponsored, government-sponsored detention camp designed to keep black and brown immigrants in hell conditions, and Donald Trump pretends that this makes our country safer.

“But our battle is not over here. I am still committed to putting this administration in charge and I will continue to show up to any other facility like Florida and the nation to protect innocent immigrants of racial targets.”

DeSantis announced earlier this month that the state will open soon Second Immigration Prison In an abandoned prison near Gainesville in northern Florida to increase production capacity.