A federal appeals court on Thursday blocked a lower court order that ordered the Trump administration to close down Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center within 60 days.
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an emergency order to repurpose the old Dade-Collier Training Airport into the detention center in the Florida Everglades earlier this year, which is expected to hold up to 5,000 people.Â
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams determined in her preliminary ruling last month that the facility can remain operational for now, but barred the administration from installing any additional industrial-style lighting and expanding the facility.Â
The Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security asked the Eleventh US Circuit Court of Appeals to stay Williams’ ruling while the appeals process plays out.
“After careful consideration, we grant the defendants’ motions and we stay the preliminary injunction and the underlying case itself pending appeal,” the three judges wrote in the order, per CNN.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier praised the decision in a post on X, claiming the ruling was a “victory … against an activist judge.”
“The 11th Circuit not only blocked Judge Williams’ order to close Alligator Alcatraz, but they blocked her from proceeding with the case until the appeal is complete,” the state attorney general wrote. “A win for Florida and President Trump’s agenda!”
Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.Â
