In a significant win for justice and environmental protection, Florida’s controversial migrant detention camp—nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz”—is set to close just weeks after it opened. The facility, built on an abandoned airstrip deep in the Everglades, was constructed hastily this summer as part of Governor Ron DeSantis’s hardline immigration policies.

From the beginning, the camp sparked outrage. Human rights advocates condemned its remote location, while environmentalists and local tribal groups warned of severe ecological damage. The Everglades is one of the most fragile ecosystems in the United States, home to endangered species and lands sacred to the Miccosukee and Seminole peoples.

Now, a federal court has ordered the site vacated and dismantled within 60 days. Judge Kathleen Williams ruled that state officials had bypassed federal environmental assessments, violating key laws. Florida is already complying—moving detainees out and beginning to take down infrastructure.

What’s striking is how quickly this happened: from opening to closure in just a matter of weeks. It’s a reminder that when legal protections, tribal rights, and environmental safeguards are taken seriously, they can still stand up to rushed political agendas.