(Miami, FL) - A federal appeals court in Atlanta has hit pause on a lawsuit over the Everglades illegal migrant detention facility in Miami.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a Trump administration request to halt proceedings against Alligator Alcatraz while the shutdown continues.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ordered operations to be halted in August.
But, in September, a three-judge appellate panel stayed that order while the federal government appealed.
Attorney Paul Schwiep says, “Apparently, the government has sufficient money and manpower to operate a detention center in the heart of the Everglades to detain foreign born workers, but not enough to file a brief in court to justify its conduct, which the trial court held unlawful.”
Currently, it's unclear when the case will resume and the long-term future of the detention center is also uncertain.
Tribal groups allege the facility violates federal law requiring an environmental impact review.
Detractors call the delay "disappointing," saying the state continues to operate the center unchecked.
Gov. Ron DeSantis defends Alligator Alcatraz saying it is part of Florida’s legal enforcement of immigration laws independent of federal oversight.