Judge pauses construction at Florida's Alligator Alcatraz detention center

Florida must pause construction at the immigration detention center in the Everglades that's dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz" while an environmental lawsuit plays out, a federal judge in Miami ruled Thursday.The big picture: While environmentalists called U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams' 14-day temporary restraining order in their suit filed against the Trump administration "an important milestone," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) noted on X: "Operations at Alligator Alcatraz are ongoing and deportations are continuing."Driving the news: The Obama-appointed judge made the ruling following two days of testimony in the suit brought by the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity.What they're saying: Friends of the Everglades said in a statement that it's pleased Williams made the ruling after hearing from experts who "detailed harm posed by industrial lighting and at least 20 acres of new pavement built on the site, among other impacts to the land and water within Big Cypress National Preserve."Eve Samples, the group's executive director, said in a statement she looked forward to "advancing our ultimate goal of protecting the unique and imperiled Everglades ecosystem from further damage caused by this mass detention facility."The other side: "This lawsuit ignores the fact that this land has already been developed for a decade," said Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin in a media statement. "It is another attempt to prevent the president from fulfilling the American people's mandate for mass deportations. These environmental activists and activist judge don't care about the invasion of our country facilitated by the Biden administration, but the American people do."What's next: Friends of the Everglades said the plaintiffs will be back in court Tuesday, arguing for a temporary injunction.More from Axios:Inside Alligator Alcatraz: Report documents grim conditions for detaineesTrump officials deflect from "Alligator Alcatraz" scrutiny by pointing fingers at BidenFlorida spent more than $200 million to set up Alligator Alcatraz, records show

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