ORLANDO, Fla. — A federal judge in Florida is pushing for a resolution in a lawsuit regarding whether detainees at an immigration center in the Florida Everglades, dubbed Alligator Alcatraz, have adequate access to legal representation.
U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has scheduled a two-day conference next month in her Fort Myers courtroom, mandating the presence of attorneys with the authority to settle the case. An update will be provided during a hearing next Monday, where the judge made it clear that excuses for early departures would not be accepted.
This lawsuit is one of three federal cases challenging the operations of the newly built detention facility, which has faced scrutiny since its inception under Republican Governor Ron DeSantis's administration.
A separate environmental lawsuit recently permitted the center's continued operation, putting a lower court's injunction on hold and allowing the appeal to proceed following a government shutdown.
A third lawsuit raises issues concerning the legality of the facility's operation, arguing that immigration enforcement is a federal issue, and that state agencies and contracted services shouldn't govern it.
President Trump visited the facility in July, suggesting it could serve as a nationwide model for future detention centers, coinciding with efforts to expand the nation's deportation infrastructure at a cost of $608 million to Florida.
In the current legal access case, attorneys for the detainees aim to have a preliminary injunction issued to ease communication and visits between their clients and legal counsel, underscoring the rigid and lengthy process that currently hinders access to legal aid.
Florida officials have countered that the case is moot as they state the concerns have been addressed, while the delays were attributed to constructing a facility in an area with limited resources.
