FLORIDA, USA — Environmental organizations suing the federal government over the construction of the “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention facility in the Florida Everglades are now saying the impact on the environment is visible one week after opening.

The facility built in eight days over 10 miles in the Everglades has elicited praise from Republicans across the country, including President Donald Trump, and concerns from Democrats, environmental advocacy groups and Native American tribes.

After their initial lawsuit calling for a temporary restraining order and injunction to stop construction at the facility was rebutted by Justice Department attorneys, two advocacy groups filed a legal response reiterating their request. 

The Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity filed another motion Thursday. 

Advocates argued in the previous filing that the detention facility in the center of Big Cypress National Preserve threatens the fragile ecosystem, saying officials moved forward with plans without conducting a meaningful review of environmental impacts and public input, as required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 

In response, Justice Department attorneys argued in a filing last week that a federal judge should deny the groups’ request to halt operations at the detention facility, citing that plaintiffs failed to prove they would suffer “irreparable harm” from the facility and that Florida is operating it without federal involvement.

“Florida is constructing and operating the facility using state funds on state lands under state emergency authority and a preexisting general delegation of federal authority to implement immigration functions,” the federal attorneys argued in a motion also filed Thursday, meaning the state would not have to abide by the federal law.

In the new filing, attorneys for the environmental groups argued that NEPA extends to nonfederal entities that have entered into a partnership with the federal government.

“The Federal Defendants cannot shirk NEPA responsibilities by passing the buck to the State; the State is bound as a partner,” the filing argues.

Additionally, in the filing, the environmental groups allege that “more destructive” activities have been observed at the site, including new paving and more permanent construction of roads.

Two weeks ago, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office, which has said the detention facility is “temporary,” told First Coast News in a statement that no vegetation would be removed and there would be no more paving or permanent construction at the site.

However, in Thursday’s filing, plaintiffs provided photos of what they claim show recently paved areas within the facility.

Plaintiffs include photos dated June 21, 2025, that they say show possible clearing to the right of the runway where the facility is centered.

Another image, dated June 29, appears to show a newly paved area. 

Then, a photo dated July 3 appears to show additional expansion of the newly paved area.

“Comparison of the photos demonstrates significant filling and paving of areas that had been unpaved open areas prior to the start of this project,” the filing states. “In our estimation, approximately 13 acres or 600,000 square feet of filling and paving continues to occur as of July 3, 2025.”

However, Florida Division of Emergency Management Deputy Director of Communications Stephanie Hartman said in an emailed statement to First Coast News on Monday, “Alligator Alcatraz was built only on existing runway facilities and paved areas.”

When asked further about the provided images, Hartman responded with the following email:

“The area referenced consisted of a preexisting cement pad that was installed more than 50 years ago. Over time, a thin layer of dirt and grass had settled on top.”

First Coast News has reached out to the plaintiffs for a response to these statements.

Plaintiffs also argued that the once-dark night skies are now impeded by light pollution from the facility, and the glow of the facility could be seen 15 miles away. 

The document includes a photo taken July 2, 2025, from an iPhone 13 camera by Betty Osceola, which appears to show light pollution approximately 15 miles away from the facility. The filing states that Osceola is a member of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and lives “not far” from the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, where the facility was built.

“While the State continues to downplay the impacts of the detention center (and describe it as “temporary”), the evidence proves otherwise: Previously unimproved sections of the Site have been filled and paved; roads have been added and expanded; and the night sky over Big Cypress now glows like Yankee Stadium, visible from 15-miles away,” the July 3 filing argues.

Additionally, advocates argue that artificial lighting degrades the natural habitat for native species, including the Florida bonneted bat and Florida panther.

State officials have not spoken to the scope of the facility’s light pollution, and have not made any promises that it would not be present.