Judge Dismisses Part of Alligator Alcatraz Lawsuit, Transfers Rest

The civil rights challenge to the Everglades detention center is moving to Florida’s Middle District after the judge found some claims moot.

Work progresses on the "Alligator Alcatraz" detention facility in the Florida Everglades, in Ochopee, Fla., on July 4, 2025. AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

A federal judge issued a split ruling in a lawsuit challenging the “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, dismissing part of the case while sending the remainder to another court.

U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz in Miami ruled on Aug. 18 that detainees’ claims they lacked access to immigration courts were now moot after the Trump administration designated the Krome North Processing Center near Miami to hear their cases.