Border Czar Tom Homan said over the weekend that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation operations will not be slowed following a federal court ruling that ordered the closure of Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention facility.
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams ordered the facility shut down within 60 days, ruling that its construction violated federal law by proceeding without the required environmental review.
The order mandates that all migrants currently housed at the site be relocated and that equipment including fencing and generators be removed.
Florida quickly filed an appeal in response, challenging the ruling in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta.
Governor Ron DeSantis said Friday that the state remained confident the ruling would be overturned.
“We’re not going to be deterred; we’re totally in the right on this,” DeSantis stated.
“This is not going to deter us. We’re going to continue working on the deportations, advancing that mission.”
In his first public comments since the decision, Homan said the ruling would not derail the Trump administration’s enforcement agenda.
“They’re not going to stop us doing what we’re doing. We’ll follow the judge’s order and we’ll litigate and we’ll appeal it. But [the] bottom line is, we’re going to continue to arrest public safety threats and national security threats every day across this country,” Homan told NewsNation in an interview on Saturday.
Homan emphasized that detainees could be moved to other facilities if necessary.
“If we have to send them to another facility, that’s what we’re going to do. That’s why the president has asked for 100,000 beds in the ‘big, beautiful bill.’ So, we’re going to build 100,000 beds, so we’re not going to have a lack of bed space,” he said.
NEW: Trump’s Border Czar @RealTomHoman says the admin will comply with the judge’s order to close “Alligator Alcatraz” in 60 days while they appeal.
Homan: “If we have to send ’em to another facility, that’s what we’re going to do.”
Florida is opening another immigration… pic.twitter.com/Qs4Lrsv8I3
— Libbey Dean (@LibbeyDean_) August 23, 2025
The “Alligator Alcatraz” facility had been a key part of Florida’s efforts to manage surging numbers of illegal aliens pending deportation.
Its closure order marks a setback for the Trump administration’s expanded detention network, though officials have indicated that additional facilities are planned.
Homan also criticized Judge Williams directly, referring to her as “radical” and accusing her of issuing a political decision from the bench.
His comments echoed those of Florida officials, including DeSantis, who described Williams as an “activist judge that is trying to do policy from the bench.”
The appeal in the 11th Circuit has not yet been scheduled for oral arguments.
In the meantime, Florida officials and the Department of Homeland Security will be required to comply with the closure order, even as legal challenges continue.
The ruling has brought renewed focus on the Trump administration’s larger immigration enforcement strategy, which includes expanding detention capacity nationwide.
While the court decision temporarily halts the use of one facility, Homan and DeSantis both insisted that deportation operations will move forward as planned.
The case will be closely watched as it proceeds in federal appeals court, with significant implications for immigration enforcement operations in Florida and beyond.
Time to start completely ignoring these slimy pathetic left-tard DemocRATic judges and tell them to go pound sand.
That would be playing into Dem’s hand. They already accuse him of violating the law and ignoring courts even though he has not ignored the courts and almost everything they say was against the law has been overturned on appeal. Trump’s team is smart enough to work around these minor roadblocks while using these pathetic lower court rulings to get positive higher court rulings. It helps to have a team that is totally on his side unlike the subversion he experienced in term one.
The left craves anarchy. That is the goal, I don’t see why we should give it to them.
I think it brings a enhanced focus on activist judges who should be penalized for continuing to ignore the supreme court.
Fuck the activist judge.
Right on Up Hers
No Thanks – Not even with Yours 😉
Supreme Court Warns Defiant Rogue Judges: You’re Not Above the Law. “Lower court judges may sometimes disagree with this Court’s decisions, but they are never free to defy them,” Gorsuch wrote.
This is NOT a setback at all. Simply another marxist Obamunist judge denying the law to appease enviro lunatics. It will be overturned in short order.
Do Not Comply! This judge’s ruling is based on politics not law. It is obvious interference. Ignore it the same way Obama ignored the Constitution with DACA.