U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams' injunction formalized a temporary halt she had ordered two weeks ago as witnesses continued to testify in a multiday hearing to determine whether construction should end until the ultimate resolution of the case.

A federal judge ordered Florida to halt expansion and begin dismantling parts Alligator Alcatraz, prompting Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration to quickly appeal the ruling.

The state of Florida filed a notice of appeal of a federal judge’s preliminary injunction that would close within 60 days the state’s immigrant detention center in the Everglades known