Federal court rules Alligator Alcatraz detention center to remain open

A federal court ruled the immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," will remain open.

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The decision overrules a lower court ruling that attempted to shut down the facility. The lower court had determined that the center doesn't abide by federal environmental review laws.

Two environmental groups are at the center of the lawsuit. The CEO of one group, Friends of the Everglades, said the fight is far from over.

"This fight is far from over. It was built without the most basic environmental review at immense human and ecological cost," the CEO said.

Florida state officials, not the federal government, built the facility to support immigration enforcement. Two federal judges ruled federal law requiring an environmental impact review beforehand wasn't necessary.

"Florida, not federal, officials constructed the facility. They control the land and 'entirely' built the facility at state expense," the judges wrote.

The two environmental groups say they'll keep pursuing the case. For now, operations continue as usual inside the detention center.