The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida played a crucial role in derailing, for now, US President Donald Trump's 'Alligator Alcatraz', an already infamous prison camp where people accused of unauthorised immigration are being held without charge or trial.

On Thursday, several weeks after the opening of the detention centre, US District Judge Kathleen Williams ruled no more detainees can be sent to the camp deep in the marshy wetlands of the Everglades.

The facilities has been condemned for its conditions, including human beings being kept in cages in extreme heat, insect infestations, inadequate food supplies and a lack of medical care. State and federal elected representatives have called for the closure of the site, which is largely filled with people who have no known criminal records and have not had any legal representation or due process.

Justice Williams issued a preliminary injunction in a federal lawsuit filed by Miccosukee Tribe, alongside the Friends of the Everglades and Center for Biological Diversity.

The Tribe, on whose lands the notorious prison camp is located, raised serious concerns about the impact the facility is having on their country and its wildlife.

Justice William said "the project creates irreparable harm in the form of habitat loss and increased mortality to endangered species in the area".

The preliminary injunction will be in place until the court can make a final decision in the case.

A spokesperson for the Florida attorney general announced via a social media post that the state has initiated an appeal of the judge's order.

The Miccosukee Tribe filed suit to stop the unpermitted construction of Alligator Alcatraz adjacent to traditional Miccosukee villages.

On August 7, the Southern District of Florida granted a Temporary Restraining Order that halted further construction activities at Alligator Alcatraz. The order did not suspend current operations at the facility but did prohibit further construction until the court reconvened.

The court then held an evidentiary hearing on the motion for preliminary injunction on 12 August, ultimately leading to the decision issued on 21 August.

The Tribe said it "continues to assert its rights and raise concerns regarding the facility's impact on sacred lands, water quality, and cultural preservation".

At the time, Chairman Talbert Cypress of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida welcomed the court's decision to pause construction "on this deeply concerning project".

"The detention facility threatens land that is not only environmentally sensitive but sacred to our people. While this order is temporary, it is an important step in asserting our rights and protecting our homeland. The Miccosukee Tribe will continue to stand for our culture, our sovereignty, and the Everglades," he said.

Image: Mickenzie Hannon (Naples Daily News, via Sipa USA).