A federal appeals court panel put a hold on a lower court judge’s order to end operations indefinitely at Alligator Alcatraz , the immigration detention centre in the Florida Everglades.

In a 2-1 ruling, a three-judge panel in Atlanta granted a request from the state of Florida and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to block a lower court injunction pending the outcome of an appeal, stating it was in the public interest.

The ruling will allow the facility to continue holding detainees for the time being.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in Miami issued a preliminary injunction ordering operations at the facility to be wound down by the end of October, with detainees transferred to other facilities and equipment and fencing removed.

Williams’ decision was

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