The injunction requires the state to dismantle tents and fences within 60 days. We gauge local reactions.
By Johannes Werner
Original Air Date: August 22, 2025
Host: Late Thursday, a federal judge in Miami issued a preliminary injunction against the immigrant detention camp in the Everglades. The judge expects the state to move the detainees to other facilities within 60 days, and then remove all fencing, lighting and generators. Judge Kathleen Williams ordered a stop for the state and federal government to bring any new detainees. The State of Florida immediately appealed. We gathered local reactions.
Johannes Werner: The judge’s ruling comes in a suit brought by two environmental organizations in Florida and the Miccosukee tribe.
Image via France 24
The state government immediately filed a notice of appeal to the ruling. Governor Ron DeSantis:
Ron DeSantis: This was not something that was unexpected. This is a judge that was not going to give us a fair shake. This was preordained.
Another lawsuit filed in Miami about inhumane conditions and lack of due process for detainees has had partial success. The judge in that case dismissed some claims, but he allowed the remaining claims to proceed in the Middle District of Florida, which includes courts in Fort Myers and Tampa. The ACLU is one of the plaintiffs in that case.
Image via France 24
We asked local actors for their reaction to the ruling. Junior Salazar is a driving force behind immigrant rights group Pueblo Unido Tampa Bay. The Bradenton activist said he welcomes the ruling.
Via text, Junior Salazar wrote the environmental concerns are valid, but light should also be shed on the broader humanitarian issues at the camp.
Junior Salazar
“Families and individuals should not be forced to live in unsafe conditions—whether because of environmental risks or systemic neglect.”
Salazar said he was concerned about the dismissal of some of the allegations in the ACLU lawsuit, “because the reports of inhumane conditions and violations of due process are serious and well-documented.” He said he remained hopeful that the case moving to a Middle District court will bring some of it to light.
Image via France 24
“Immigration is not just a policy issue; it’s a human issue. Behind every case and every lawsuit are families, children and individuals striving for safety, opportunity, and dignity.”
Miami archbishop Thomas Wenski and Venice Bishop Frank Dewane have been outspoken critics of the detention facility.
We reached out to Bishop Dewane but did not receive a response by deadline. In a statement on the Venice Diocese website, Dewane said this:
Bishop Frank Dewane
“It is alarming to see enforcement strategies which treat all unauthorized immigrants as dangerous criminals. Masked, heavily armed agents who fail to identify themselves in enforcement activities are surprising. So is an apparent lack of due process in deportation proceedings in recent months.”
Bishop Dewane underlines the need for U.S. immigration reform.
“Serious reforms are necessary to preserve safety and the integrity of our borders, as well as to accommodate needs for labor, family stability and the ability of those at risk of grave harm to migrate with due process.”
We also reached out to the Sarasota Sheriff’s Department, which has deployed 10 deputies to assist operations of the Everglades detention camp. We did not hear back before the deadline.
Reporting for WSLR News, Johannes Werner.
WSLR News aims to keep the local community informed with our 1/2 hour local news show, quarterly newspaper and social media feeds. The local news broadcast airs on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6pm.