A federal judge is set to rule on the future of the immigration detention in Florida known as "Alligator Alcatraz." An environmental group and Native American tribe sued over concerns that the facility would harm the surrounding Everglades.

Ochopee

A federal judge is expected to rule on the future of the 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention center, located in Florida's Everglades. The facility has faced legal challenges from an environmental group and a Native American tribe, who allege that construction proceeded without the required federal environmental reviews. Florida officials argue the facility is exempt from such reviews because it is state-run, despite housing federal detainees.

The outcome of the case could impact not only Florida but also broader federal efforts to expand the use of state-run facilities for immigration detention. The Trump administration has encouraged states to convert prisons into detention centers, and the ruling may affect similar initiatives in other states. The case comes amid record-high numbers of immigration detainees and ongoing debates over deportation policies.

Federal judge to rule on future of "Alligator Alcatraz" detention site

Welcome back. Thanks for hanging out with us. A federal judge is set to rule very soon on the future of the Immigration Detention Center in Florida, called by some, Alligator Alcatraz. An environmental group and Native American tribe sued over concerns that facility would or probably already has, in their view, harmed the surrounding Everglades. Camilo Montoya Galvez joins me now from the Broadcast Center in New York. Camilo, so much stuff to talk to you about in the immigration space. Catch us up on this matter before the federal judge. Well, Major, this federal judge in Florida could very well decide to order an immediate and indefinite pause on construction and operations at this so-called Alligator Alcatraz facility in the middle of the Florida Everglades, where state officials have been detaining people who are suspected of being in the country illegally and who are facing deportation. A Native American tribe, as you underscored, and a group of activists are alleging that Florida did not undertake any environmental reviews to construct this facility, despite federal laws that require that review to be undertaken before any major construction project. Florida is arguing in court that Alligator Alcatraz is not subject to those federal environmental reviews, Major, because it is a state-run facility that is housing federal detainees yet but under state control, because state officials in Florida have been deputized as immigration officials. So, if the judge sides with the plaintiffs, the activists and this tribe, that would be a major setback, not only for Florida, but also for the Trump administration, which has been trying to persuade as many states as possible, as you know, Major, to allow state facilities to be turned into immigration detention centers. You've seen now Indiana and Nebraska also allow state prisons to be converted into immigration detaining centers for people awaiting deportation, Major. Camilo, this is part of the matrix of the deportation process of the Trump administration. What do we know about the pace of deportations thus far? Well, just to level set it, Major, right now ICE is currently holding about 60,000 detainees in detention centers across the country. That is a record high. We know that about 40 percent of them are non-criminal migrants who are in the country illegally or are suspected of being here without proper documentation, but otherwise do not have a criminal record. The rest have pending convictions or charges. We also know that in the first six months of the second Trump administration, ICE conducted about 150,000 deportations. That puts the agency on track to record the most deportations since the Obama administration, more than the first Trump administration. Still, it is nowhere near that one million per year deportation target that some Trump administration officials have floated. At the same time, it also does not include self-deportations, and that is a key element to this administration's immigration policy. They would like to see as many people leave the country voluntarily by making it really difficult for people to stay here if they're here illegally. And alligator Alcatraz, Guantanamo Bay are some of those messages of deterrence that the administration hopes will prompt people to leave the country voluntarily. Camilo Montoya Galvez, thank you so much. Appreciate it. Thank you.

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