The Department of Homeland Security claimed a "huge victory" Thursday after an appeals court paused the shutdown of one of its most infamous detention centers.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit issued a temporary injunction against a lower court's ruling that required DHS to shut down "Alligator Alcatraz," a 5,000-bed detention facility in the Florida Everglades, within 60 days. The lower court ruled that the Trump administration had ignored environmental regulations, which allowed them to build the facility in eight days.
"HUGE VICTORY FOR ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ," DHS posted on X. "Today’s order is a win for the American people, the rule of law, and common sense."
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has previously said she's "all-in" on "Alligator Alcatraz" to help President Donald Trump fulfill his immigration policies.
"This lawsuit was never about the environmental impacts of turning a developed airport into a detention facility," the post continued. "It has and will always be about open-borders activists and judges trying to keep law enforcement from removing dangerous criminal aliens from our communities, full stop."
HUGE VICTORY FOR ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ. Today’s order is a win for the American people, the rule of law and common sense. This lawsuit was never about the environmental impacts of turning a developed airport into a detention facility. It has and will always be about open-borders…
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) September 4, 2025