MIAMI— U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams will hear testimony and arguments Wednesday in Miami on a lawsuit brought by conservation groups seeking an injunction against the state of Florida and the Trump administration over the construction and operation of the massive detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz” in Big Cypress National Preserve.

The hearing stems from a June 27 lawsuit challenging state and federal agencies for violating a landmark federal environmental law, the National Environmental Policy Act, in their rush to build the migrant detention facility. The Miccosukee Tribe last week joined the conservation groups’ lawsuit opposing the facility.

What: Evidentiary hearing regarding a preliminary injunction to halt activities at the immigration detention center in the Everglades.

When: 9 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 6 (all day).

Where: Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. U. S. Courthouse, Courtroom 11-3, 400 N. Miami Ave., Miami, Florida, 33128.

Who: Lawyers representing Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity, and lawyers representing the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians.

Background

In June the Trump administration and the state of Florida began constructing a massive migrant detention center in Big Cypress National Preserve in the Everglades. The detention center, which could house thousands of detainees, endangers the sensitive wetlands of the national preserve, the fragile Everglades ecosystem, and the imperiled, federally protected species who live there. The detention center also threatens to undo billions of dollars’ worth of environmental restoration undertaken in the area.

Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity filed the lawsuit and are represented by Scott Hiaasen, Paul Schwiep, Earthjustice and Center attorneys.