As of this writing, U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams has not yet ruled on whether to shut down “Alligator Alcatraz” so a proper environmental review can be done as required by federal law. That ruling is expected today.

Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced last week that a second detention facility — “Deportation Depot” — will be set up at the vacant Baker Correctional Institution in rural Baker County. Florida Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith characterized it like this on Instagram: “The state is scrambling to open a new detention center because they’re scared the courts will shut down their illegal Everglades detention camp.”

Could be. But we have to ask: What was the point of all this?

What did DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier think would happen? Did they actually think the courts would rule in favor of an insta-prison thrown up in the sensitive Big Cypress with no environmental review?

Hundreds of millions of tax dollars were spent setting it up; how much will it cost to break it all down?

What a waste.

It sounds as if the government didn’t even try to win in court. They presented just one witness, while the plaintiffs — Friends of the Everglades, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida — presented numerous witnesses who testified to the environmental harm caused by operations, the impact to panther habitat and tribal villages and sacred sites.

So if Judge Williams grants the injunction sought by the plaintiffs, will the government appeal? Or will DeSantis and Uthmeier, the alleged “Alligator Alcatraz” mastermind, simply tuck their tails between their legs and retreat to “Deportation Depot?”

What was this all about, anyway?

Stay tuned and maybe we’ll finally find out.