Florida officials failed to disclose that they had applied for federal reimbursement for an immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz,' leading to a false impression before an appellate court panel that put on hold a judge's order to wind down operations at the facility, according to a lawsuit filed on Monday.
The public records lawsuit, filed in Tallahassee by the Friends of the Everglades and other environmental groups, alleges that federal and state agencies disregarded laws requiring an environmental review for the facility located in sensitive wetlands. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams previously ordered that the detention center needed to wind down operations within two months. However, an appellate court stay in early September allowed the facility to remain open pending the appeal's outcome.
A three-judge panel concluded that the state-run facility did not need an environmental impact study since Florida had yet to receive federal funds. The judges noted, 'If the federal defendants ultimately decide to approve that request and reimburse Florida... they may need to first conduct an Environmental Impact Statement.'
Florida had applied for federal funding on August 7 but did not disclose this to the federal court or the appellate court panel, leading to calls for transparency and accountability. Earlier this month, federal officials confirmed Florida's approval for a $608 million reimbursement for costs associated with establishing and operating the detention center.
Environmental advocates claim that government officials in Florida have misled the public, harming the Everglades in the process. Friends of the Everglades are seeking communications between state and federal governments, which they believe have been withheld despite numerous requests since June.
Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis had hastily constructed the facility to support President Donald Trump's immigration policies designed to deter illegal entry into the U.S. Trump endorsed the center during a tour in July, suggesting it could serve as a model for future detention facilities nationwide.
The public records lawsuit, filed in Tallahassee by the Friends of the Everglades and other environmental groups, alleges that federal and state agencies disregarded laws requiring an environmental review for the facility located in sensitive wetlands. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams previously ordered that the detention center needed to wind down operations within two months. However, an appellate court stay in early September allowed the facility to remain open pending the appeal's outcome.
A three-judge panel concluded that the state-run facility did not need an environmental impact study since Florida had yet to receive federal funds. The judges noted, 'If the federal defendants ultimately decide to approve that request and reimburse Florida... they may need to first conduct an Environmental Impact Statement.'
Florida had applied for federal funding on August 7 but did not disclose this to the federal court or the appellate court panel, leading to calls for transparency and accountability. Earlier this month, federal officials confirmed Florida's approval for a $608 million reimbursement for costs associated with establishing and operating the detention center.
Environmental advocates claim that government officials in Florida have misled the public, harming the Everglades in the process. Friends of the Everglades are seeking communications between state and federal governments, which they believe have been withheld despite numerous requests since June.
Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis had hastily constructed the facility to support President Donald Trump's immigration policies designed to deter illegal entry into the U.S. Trump endorsed the center during a tour in July, suggesting it could serve as a model for future detention facilities nationwide.
