President Donald Trump, who after visiting Alligator Alcatraz, suggested the facility could be used as a model for future lockups as his administration pushes anti-immigration narratives.
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction to halt the expansion of the controversial immigration detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz” in Florida, citing concerns that its Everglades location may violate environmental laws, according to NPR.
Within the 82-page order presented Aug. 21, the preliminary injunction includes “those who are in active concert or participation with” the state of Florida or federal defendants or their officers, agents, employees, to permit the facility to go through the required environmental assessments, as there have been efforts to preserve the Everglades for years. “Since that time, every Florida governor, every Florida senator, and countless local and national political figures, including presidents, have publicly pledged their unequivocal support for the restoration, conservation, and protection of the Everglades,” Judge Williams wrote.
“This order does nothing more than uphold the basic requirements of legislation designed to fulfill those promises.”
Friends of the Everglades Executive Director Eve Samples called the ruling a landmark victory and praised Williams for standing up for what’s right. “It sends a clear message that environmental laws must be respected by leaders at the highest levels of our government — and there are consequences for ignoring them,” Samples said in a statement.
“The frenetic human activity, including vehicular traffic and wastewater from thousands of people daily, was essentially absent prior to the detention camp’s construction.”
Williams’ ruling came after issuing a temporary restraining order that blocked state and federal officials from further expansion of the facility, slated to last two weeks from Aug. 7.
That will put a hindrance on potential plans from President Donald Trump, who, after visiting Alligator Alcatraz, suggested the facility could be used as a model for future lockups as his administration pushes anti-immigration narratives.
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Source: Black Enterprise
