ELR Citation: 55 ELR 20105
No(s). 25-22896-CV-WILLIAMS (S.D. Fla. Aug 7, 2025) (Williams, J.)

A district court granted in part and denied in part environmental groups' motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO) in a challenge to the federal government's construction and operation of a mass immigrant detention and deportation facility in the Florida Everglades. The groups argued construction and operation of the project without any environmental review violated NEPA, and sought to enjoin the state of Florida and the federal government from developing or using the site as a detention facility until the government complies. A few weeks after the suit was filed, the facility completed its first phase of construction and ongoing operations, and the groups sought a TRO to halt further construction, pause transportation of additional detainees to the site, and cease operations related to detaining or preparing to detain anyone not already there. The court found that the government's control over the facility's operations, evidence that construction was at the request of the Department of Homeland Security, and regular inspections by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, combined with the undisputed lack of any prior environmental assessment, created a sufficient likelihood of success on the groups' claim. It further found the balance of equities and public interest favored granting a TRO because the harm to the government from briefly suspending expansion of the facility was minimal and was not preventing continued operations there nor additional detainees from being brought there if current capacity allowed; but that if the facility were expanded, it would be difficult to change course. The court entered a TRO prohibiting Florida and the federal government from installing new industrial-style lighting; doing any paving, filling, excavating, or fencing; or doing any other expansion, including placing or erecting additional buildings, tents, dormitories, or other residential or administrative buildings on the site, until the court enters an order as to the groups' motion for preliminary injunction.