Conservationists hail US judge’s order to pause building at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ jail

Temporary halt for facility in Florida Everglades comes as attorneys argue whether environmental laws being violated

A coalition of conservation groups has welcomed a federal judge's ruling on Thursday that halts construction work on the immigration jail in the Florida Everglades known as Alligator Alcatraz.

US district judge Kathleen Williams ordered workers to stop adding any new paving, infrastructure or ground filling at the remote tented detention camp that the Trump administration intends to use to eventually hold 3,000 immigrants awaiting deportation.