Federal Judge Calls for Settlement Meeting on Immigration Center Detainee Rights

Wed Nov 26 2025 02:55:25 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A Florida federal judge has scheduled a conference to discuss a lawsuit regarding detainees' access to legal counsel at the controversial 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration center in the Everglades.

During a hearing, Judge Sheri Polster Chappell advised civil rights attorneys and state representatives to collaborate towards a settlement regarding the rights of detainees at the 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration center. Attorneys have raised concerns over the limited access detainees have to legal counsel, which is exacerbated by pre-appointments required for visits. The judge expressed optimism about reaching agreements that respect the rights of the plaintiffs while not imposing undue burdens on the defendants.

FORT MYERS, Fla. — A federal judge in Florida wants civil rights attorneys and lawyers representing the U.S. and Florida to meet next month to reach a settlement concerning the rights of detainees at an immigration facility in the Everglades, referred to as 'Alligator Alcatraz'.

U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has scheduled a conference for December 16-17 in her Fort Myers courtroom. I think we're closer on a lot of issues than we were before, Chappell remarked, suggesting that the parties involved could come to reasonable agreements that balance the needs of detainees with the responsibilities of the state.

The attorneys for detainees are advocating for a preliminary injunction to facilitate easier communication between their clients and legal representatives. This detention center was constructed last summer by the administration of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, sparking several legal challenges regarding its operations.

ACLU attorney Eunice Cho highlighted ongoing difficulties faced by detainees in accessing their lawyers. Unlike other facilities where lawyers can visit during open hours, appointments at this center require a three-day notice. Detainees often find themselves transferred just after an appointment is made, leaving them unable to consult with their lawyers before critical deadlines.

In a related statement, Nicholas J.P. Meros, an attorney for the state, emphasized that many initial concerns raised by detainees' lawyers have been addressed and attributed past delays to construction challenges in a remote location.

This legal dispute is one of several federal cases involving the immigration center. A recent environmental lawsuit allowed the facility to continue operating, postponing a previous injunction that aimed to close it by the end of October.

Another ongoing lawsuit argues that immigration enforcement is a federal matter, contending that state and private contractors lack the authority to operate the facility. President Donald Trump has previously visited the site, suggesting its model could serve future detention centers as part of a broader strategy to expand deportation infrastructure.