In a blow against the opacity of the Florida state government and the Trump administration's hardline policies, a judge ordered the immediate release of key documents about the controversial "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center. The court ruling puts under scrutiny a secret agreement that would allow the use of millions of dollars in federal funds to operate this immigration detention center nestled in the heart of the Everglades. A Florida state judge ordered the state government to release documents related to the operation and funding of the immigration detention center, a facility operated in coordination with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The ruling, issued by the Second Judicial Circuit in Leon County, gives the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) 21 days to hand over the records requested by the environmental organizations Friends of the Everglades and Earthjustice. The decision is part of a lawsuit in which the groups accuse state authorities of violating the Transparency Act by concealing key information about the project. According to the plaintiffs, the state government and federal agencies withheld documents to avoid complying with federal environmental legislation before building the center, which opened in July 2025 as a symbol of the hardline immigration policy pursued by President Donald Trump's second administration. They denounce secrecy and hidden federal funds. Friends of the Everglades maintains that the project was shrouded in opacity from the beginning. Its executive director, Eve Samples, warned that the government "attempted to evade its legal obligation to protect the Everglades," a fragile ecosystem that is home to dozens of endemic and protected species. New documents were revealed in the legal proceedings that contradict the official version that there was no federal involvement in the center's funding. According to Earthjustice,The Department of Homeland Security issued Florida a $608.4 million allocation notice last July, weeks after state and federal officials agreed that the facility would receive federal funding. “The state and the Trump administration have maintained that Florida built a 5,000-person facility without any coordination with the federal government. That position defies common sense,” said Paul Schwiep, an attorney with Friends of the Everglades. The case is unfolding alongside another legal dispute over the facility’s permanent closure. In August 2025, a judge ordered its dismantling due to alleged environmental violations, but the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals stayed that order while it reviews the merits of the case. A new hearing has been scheduled for next April. In addition to environmental concerns, civil rights organizations have denounced abuses against detained migrants and the lack of official data on how many people remain detained at the facility. For Earthjustice, the court ruling represents a key step toward accountability. “These documents belong to Florida taxpayers and must be made public,” emphasized Tania Galloni, the organization's senior attorney. With the ruling, the state government is now obligated to open its files and clarify the true extent of federal involvement in one of the most controversial detention centers in the country.“These documents belong to Florida taxpayers and must be made public,” emphasized Tania Galloni, lead attorney for the organization. With the ruling, the state government is now obligated to open its files and clarify the true extent of federal involvement in one of the most controversial detention centers in the country.“These documents belong to Florida taxpayers and must be made public,” emphasized Tania Galloni, lead attorney for the organization. With the ruling, the state government is now obligated to open its files and clarify the true extent of federal involvement in one of the most controversial detention centers in the country.