Judge temporarily suspends construction of ‘Alcatraz dos alligators’

A federal judge temporarily suspended on Thursday the construction of a new Immigrant Detention Center in Florida, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” (Alcatraz dos alligators), while a lawsuit unfolds on its environmental impact.

At a Miami hearing, district judge Kathleen Williams blocked new buildings on site in Everglades, Florida, until August 12, but did not suspend the operations or interfered with the work of local employees. Williams was expected to issue a written order later this Thursday.

The US internal security department did not immediately respond to an email requesting comments on the decision.