florida immigration alligator alcatraz desantis.

A federal judge has denied a request to close an immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades known as “Alligator Alcatraz.” The decision came Thursday from a federal judge who said a detainee, identified as M.A., failed to show irreparable harm. U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek stated that M.A. hadn’t met the high burden required for a preliminary injunction. M.A.’s lawsuit is one of three challenging practices at the center, built this summer by the state of Florida. M.A.’s lawsuit argues that Florida lacks the authority to operate the facility under federal law. Other lawsuits focus on environmental impact and detainees’ access to legal help.

U.S. government lawyers say detainees at the Florida Everglades immigration detention center, known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” likely include people who have never been in removal proceedings. This contradicts Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s claims since the facility opened in July. The U.S. Department of Justice made this admission Thursday in a court filing. They argue that detainees don’t have enough in common to be certified as a class in a lawsuit over access to attorneys. Civil rights groups allege detainees have been denied proper access to legal counsel, violating their constitutional rights. DeSantis’s office hasn’t responded to requests for comment.