Alligator Alcatraz Detainees Trapped in Legal Limbo as State-Federal Jurisdiction Dispute Undermines Due Process

Lawyers representing migrant detainees at a controversial facility in the Florida Everglades, dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," allege that hundreds of individuals are being held incommunicado without access to legal proceedings or federal immigration courts. The detention center, constructed rapidly on a remote airfield, has drawn scrutiny for its opaque legal framework, with attorneys claiming detainees face unexplained authority from state and federal officials while their constitutional rights to due process are allegedly violated [1]. A federal court in Miami is set to address a lawsuit challenging the facility, which has become a focal point of a broader dispute over immigration detention practices and federal-state jurisdiction.

The legal battle centers on the inability of immigration attorneys to secure bond hearings or represent clients at the facility. Court filings reveal that the Krome Immigration Court in Miami has disclaimed jurisdiction over detainees at Alligator Alcatraz, while U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has also denied responsibility for the site’s operations. This lack of oversight has left detainees in a legal limbo, with one attorney describing the situation as "unprecedented and disturbing" due to the absence of clear legal authority governing their detention [2].

Critics argue the facility undermines due process. Lawyers report that attorneys attempting to schedule bond hearings for clients have been informed by immigration court officials that their cases fall outside federal jurisdiction. This has forced legal representatives to demand that officials identify an immigration court with authority over the detainees and resume accepting petitions. A motion filed in July 2025 seeks clarity on who is responsible for managing detainees’ legal cases, emphasizing that the current system appears designed to delay or prevent judicial review [3].

The facility’s operators, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, have pledged to provide on-site legal services but have not clarified their legal basis for operating the center. Meanwhile, some detainees are being deported from the site, as announced by Governor Ron DeSantis, though this action does not resolve the underlying legal questions. Legal experts warn that the facility’s existence could set a precedent for future immigration detention policies, particularly if federal courts fail to intervene.

The lawsuit highlights tensions between state and federal authorities over immigration enforcement. Plaintiffs argue that Florida cannot unilaterally establish a detention system outside federal oversight, with the facility’s legality resting on unproven agreements between the Trump and DeSantis administrations. A ruling from Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz II could determine whether such facilities violate constitutional protections or federal immigration laws, with implications for immigrant rights and jurisdictional disputes.

Attorneys continue to press for transparency, describing the situation as a deliberate effort to "delay and stall" legal proceedings. One lawyer noted that a client with valid asylum documents was detained despite presenting evidence, underscoring the facility’s lack of procedural clarity. Detainees, meanwhile, remain unable to challenge their detention, with the system appearing to prioritize administrative expediency over due process [1].

As the legal battle unfolds, the case has drawn national attention for its implications on immigrant rights and federal-state power dynamics. The outcome could reshape how immigration detention facilities are established and operated in the U.S., particularly in regions where state and federal authorities may attempt to collaborate on immigration enforcement.

[1] [Attorneys: 'Alligator Alcatraz' detainees held without charges, barred from legal access](https://wtop.com/national/2025/07/attorneys-alligator-alcatraz-detainees-held-without-charges-barred-from-legal-access/)

[2] [U.S. News & World Report article on Alligator Alcatraz detainees](https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/florida/articles/2025-07-28/attorneys-alligator-alcatraz-detainees-held-without-charges-barred-from-legal-access)

[3] [TribLIVE.com coverage of legal challenges to Alligator Alcatraz](https://community.triblive.com/news/3845193)