Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier celebrated after a federal appeals court blocked a lower court’s order to close "Alligator Alcatraz," the state's illegal alien detention facility located in the Everglades.
"The mission continues on immigrant enforcement. The media was giddy that somehow Alligator Alcatraz was "shutting down," DeSantis said. "And we told them that that wasn't true. There have been illegal aliens continuing to be there and being removed and returned to their home country."
The ruling comes after federal judge Kathleen Williams ordered the facility to be shutdown within 60 days. Williams, an Obama appointee, also blocked the state and the Trump administration, effective immediately at the time, from transferring any new detainees there, which had been operational since its grand opening in July.
"They ran with the narrative, because some leftist judge ruled implausibly that somehow Florida wasn't allowed to use our own property to help the federal government in this important mission, because they didn't do an environmental impact statement," DeSantis continued. "Well, we said we would fight that. We said the mission would continue. And I'm pleased to say the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has just stayed that ruling and stayed the case."
Uthmeier also reacted to the news on X.
"Victory secured against activist judge who held me in contempt!" Uthmeier said. "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. A win for Florida and President Trump’s agenda!"
He added later, "Looking back at our initial proposal for Alligator Alcatraz, we knew the left would try to shut us down. But they failed. Great win for Florida and our mission to help President Trump detain, deport, and deliver for the American people."
