MIAMI — Florida is once again facing legal action over the controversial migrant detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” as environmental activists accuse the state of violating federal air quality laws in the Florida Everglades.
The Center for Biological Diversity filed a second federal lawsuit this week, claiming Florida officials illegally operated diesel-powered generators at the detention center without obtaining the permits required under the federal Clean Air Act.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, argues that emissions from the generators are harming the fragile ecosystem surrounding the Big Cypress National Preserve and threatening protected wildlife species native to the region.
Environmental Groups Escalate Legal Fight
The latest complaint marks another chapter in the ongoing legal battle surrounding the migrant detention complex, which critics have nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” because of its remote location deep within the Everglades.
The Center for Biological Diversity previously joined Friends of the Everglades and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida in a broader lawsuit filed in June 2025 against the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), and Miami-Dade County.
In August 2025, environmental groups secured a preliminary court order that temporarily halted construction and required the dismantling of portions of the facility. However, the ruling was later paused by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals while litigation continues.
Unlike the earlier case, the newly filed lawsuit targets only the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Attorneys representing the environmental group argue that state officials failed to conduct proper environmental impact reviews and never secured mandatory air permits before the facility began operations during the summer of 2025.
Diesel Generators at Center of Lawsuit
According to the complaint, the detention center is not connected to Florida’s traditional power grid and instead relies heavily on continuously operating diesel generators for electricity.
Environmental groups claim the generators emit dangerous pollutants including fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxides, both regulated under the Clean Air Act.
The lawsuit alleges the emissions have created “substantial and unpermitted pollution” that threatens wildlife habitats and the surrounding Everglades ecosystem.
The detention facility sits on the grounds of the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, adjacent to Big Cypress National Preserve, which is home to endangered species including the Florida panther, the bonneted bat, and the snail kite.
Questions Remain About Facility’s Future
The lawsuit comes amid growing speculation that the detention center could shut down as early as June following reports from vendors connected to the project.
However, Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie recently stated that he has not received any official closure timeline and suggested the facility could remain operational for “two years, or possibly longer,” depending on federal immigration enforcement needs.
Neither Governor Ron DeSantis nor the Department of Homeland Security has publicly confirmed plans to close the site.
The migrant detention center officially opened in July 2025 as part of Florida’s aggressive support for President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda.
The project reportedly received approximately $608 million in reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
