(NewsNation) — A federal judge has ordered a temporary halt in the construction of the Florida-based migrant detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz” for two weeks as attorneys argue whether the facility violates environmental law.
The facility, which is slated to eventually house up to 5,000 migrants who entered the United States illegally and are being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, can continue to operate, but workers will be barred from adding any new infrastructure or doing other construction-related activities including adding additional paving, tall lighting, filling, excavating or fencing, the judge ruled.
In a response to the judge’s ruling, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote in a social media post, “Operations at Alligator Alcatraz are ongoing and deportations are continuing.”
The decision comes after attorneys representing two conservation groups, as well as the Miccosukee Tribe, argued that the federal government did not follow environmental laws before building the detention center in the Florida Everglades in June. The facility opened in June near an airstrip that is located in sensitive wetlands in Big Cypress National Preserve near Ochopee, Fla.
The two groups returned to court on Thursday and argued for a judge to issue an injunction to cease operations, arguing the Florida Everglades wetlands are home to protected animals and plants and that the facility’s construction reversed billions of dollars’ worth of environmental restoration.
The lawsuit claims the facility essentially ignored a review process required by the National Environmental Policy Act.
“This is a very common-sense law that requires the government to look before it leaps, to analyze the environmental impacts, to do an environmental impact study, to take public comment, to consider alternatives, and none of that was done at so-called ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’” said Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades.
After Thursday’s hearing, Paul Schwiep, an attorney representing the environmental groups, asked U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams to halt any new construction while a preliminary injunction is argued.
The New York Times reported that Williams engaged in a healted argument with attorneys representing the state of Florida and the Trump administration over their unwillingness to stop the ongoing construction.
“I don’t want to find out when I wake up on Monday that the site has been altered when this is going on, that should not be a concern,” Williams said, according to the newspaper. ““If there’s going to be further construction there’s going to be further hearing.”
Williams asked Florida attorney Jesse Panuccio if the state would agree to halt construction so that she wouldn’t need to issue the restraining order, the Associated Press reported. The judge pointed out that anything built at the site would likely remain there permanently, regardless of how the case was ultimately decided.
The facility was constructed in just eight days and is being overseen by a state agency. NewsNation previously reported that at least $245 million in contracts have already been signed for vendors to build, open and operate the facility.
State officials anticipate that the facility will require at least $450 million per year to operate. At least 900 migrants are currently being held at the detention center.
The Associated Press contributed reporting to this story.