Judge orders Florida, federal officials to produce 'Alligator Alcatraz' agreements
Share and Follow


ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Federal and state officials in Florida must produce agreements showing which government agency or private contractor has legal authority to detain people or perform immigration officer roles at “Alligator Alcatraz,” the immigration detention facility in the Everglades, a federal judge said Monday.

Officials must provide by Thursday all written agreements and contracts showing who has legal custody of the hundreds of detainees at the facility that was hastily constructed more than a month ago on an isolated airstrip in South Florida’s Everglades wilderness, said U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz, an appointee of President Donald Trump.

Ruiz’s order was part of an ongoing civil rights lawsuit against the state and federal governments by immigration attorneys who say “Alligator Alcatraz” detainees’ constitutional rights are being violated since they are barred from meeting lawyers, are being held without any charges, and a federal immigration court has canceled bond hearings.

Who has authority over the detention center has been a murky issue since it opened at the beginning of July.

The federal government and Florida had asked that any disclosures be limited to agreements between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and three Florida agencies — the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida National Guard and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

The detainees’ attorneys had requested documents showing who was responsible for removal proceedings, as well as information on the number of employees at “Alligator Alcatraz,” but Ruiz said those requests from the detainees’ lawyers were too broad.

The lawsuit is the second to challenge “Alligator Alcatraz.” Environmental groups have sued federal and state officials, asking that the project be halted because the process didn’t follow state and federal environmental laws. A hearing on that lawsuit is set for Wednesday.

Separately, the Archdiocese of Miami said it celebrated the first Mass at the detention center on Saturday following weeks of negotiations.

“I am pleased that our request to provide for the pastoral care of the detainees has been accommodated,” Archdiocese of Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski said Monday in a statement.

___

Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida, contributed to this report.

___

Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform Bluesky: @mikeysid.bsky.social.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
National Guardsman accused of seeking to send photos of sensitive military technology to Russia

National Guardsman Allegedly Attempted to Transmit Sensitive Military Technology Images to Russia

A member of the National Guard is facing charges for allegedly trying…
North Carolina state Sen. Warren Daniel, R-Burke (left and standing), presides over the Senate Committee on Elections while it considers legislation to redraw the state

Nationwide Gerrymandering Surge: Trump Encourages GOP States as Redistricting Tactics Spread

President Donald Trump’s recent call for Republicans to redraw U.S. House districts…
JD Vance embraces viral meme in hilarious Halloween video

JD Vance Incorporates Viral Meme in Entertaining Halloween Video

This Halloween, Vice President JD Vance embraced the humor of online parodies…
Thwarted Michigan Halloween terror plot had connection to ISIS, Fox News learns

Unveiled: How an ISIS-Linked Halloween Terror Plot Was Thwarted in Michigan

In a significant security operation, the FBI has reportedly foiled a potential…
Judges order the Trump administration to use contingency funds for SNAP payments during the shutdown

Federal Judges Mandate Trump Administration to Release Emergency SNAP Funds Amid Government Shutdown

BOSTON — In almost simultaneous rulings on Friday, two federal judges mandated…
Melodee Buzzard disappearance: New surveillance photos show missing California girl, 9, in possible disguise

FBI Intensifies Search for Missing 9-Year-Old Melodee Buzzard: New Warrants Executed in Critical Investigation

In California, the FBI and local sheriff’s office carried out several search…
See the best celebrity costumes from Heidi Klum's iconic 2025 Halloween party... and the scariest

Unveiling the Most Jaw-Dropping Celebrity Costumes from Heidi Klum’s 2025 Halloween Bash

The arrival of October heralds the much-anticipated spooky season, signaling the return…
5 ways Halloween candies can interact with your medications

Five Surprising Interactions Between Halloween Candy and Medications You Should Know

Don’t let those sweet treats trick you this Halloween. Each year, Americans…