Miami: A federal judge in Florida has temporarily halted construction at Alligator Alcatraz, the first state-operated detention center in the US designed to house immigrants detained under the Trump administration, as reported by The Washington Post. US District Judge Kathleen Williams issued a two-week suspension following a lawsuit initiated by environmental organizations and backed by the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians.

According to Anadolu Agency, the suspension aims to address concerns about the potential environmental impact on the Everglades ecosystem. Eve Samples, the executive director at Friends of the Everglades, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, emphasizing the need to protect the Everglades from further harm caused by the detention facility.

Florida state Representative Anna Eskamani, who supported the environmental groups during the hearing, welcomed the judge's decision. She criticized the project for threatening the environmentally sensitive region and argued that it exemplifies Florida's approach to criminalizing immigrants while neglecting natural resources' health.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis minimized the ruling's significance. Alex Lanfranconi, speaking on behalf of the governor, described the judge as an activist and insisted that the order would not affect immigration enforcement in the state. Lanfranconi affirmed that Alligator Alcatraz would remain operational and continue contributing to deportation efforts.