Obama-Appointed Judge Orders Alligator Alcatraz To Shut Down Within 60 Days

Florida federal Judge Kathleen Williams has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) to shutter Alligator Alcatraz within the next two months — and will prevent President Donald Trump’s administration and the state of Florida from placing any more detainees on the premises effective immediately.

Williams, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, ordered the immigration detention center shut down within 60 days, and the state has been ordered to begin removing equipment from the facility as soon as possible.

Fox News National Correspondent Bill Melugin shared details late on Thursday: “BREAKING: Florida federal judge Kathleen Williams (Obama appointee) is ordering Florida to shut down Alligator Alcatraz within 60 days and is blocking the state & the Trump admin from bringing any new detainees into the facility from this point forward.”

“She is also demanding that the state start removing all generators, gas, sewage, etc from Alligator Alcatraz. This is a temporary restraining order (TRO), meaning the merits of the underlying case will continue to be litigated while judge Williams orders Alligator Alcatraz to shut down,” Melugin added.

BREAKING: Florida federal judge Kathleen Williams (Obama appointee) is ordering Florida to shut down Alligator Alcatraz within 60 days and is blocking the state & the Trump admin from bringing any new detainees into the facility from this point forward.

She is also demanding…

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) August 22, 2025

Jeremy Redfern, communications director for Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, noted that another judge in the same district had refused even to hear a case pertaining to Alligator Alcatraz because it was not the proper venue.

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“Just this week, a judge in the same district as Judge Williams refused to hear a case because the Southern District of Florida was the improper venue for suits about Alligator Alcatraz. Once again, she oversteps her authority, and we will appeal this unlawful decision,” he explained.

Just this week, a judge in the same district as Judge Williams refused to hear a case because the Southern District of Florida was the improper venue for suits about Alligator Alcatraz.

Once again, she oversteps her authority, and we will appeal this unlawful decision. https://t.co/IkbEcqNiVx

— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) August 22, 2025

Fox News journalist Danamarie McNicholl said that she spoke with Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) within moments of the ruling, and he made it clear that the state would be fighting back.

“FOX EXCLUSIVE: I spoke with @GovRonDeSantis seconds after the ruling was issued. ‘We knew this judge was not giving us a fair shake. We totally expected an adverse ruling. We also knew we were going to immediately appeal,'” she posted.

FOX EXCLUSIVE: I spoke with @GovRonDeSantis seconds after the ruling was issued.

“We knew this judge was not giving us a fair shake. We totally expected an adverse ruling. We also knew we were going to immediately appeal.” @FoxNews https://t.co/mSnM52lT5i

— Danamarie McNicholl (@Danamariemctv) August 22, 2025