Efforts to establish the Donald Trump Presidential Library on a coveted Miami site have encountered a significant obstacle after a Florida judge issued a temporary injunction halting the land transfer.
On Tuesday, Circuit Judge Mavel Ruiz intervened by blocking the conveyance of a 2.63-acre plot from Miami Dade College to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation. She emphasized that her ruling was grounded in procedural fairness rather than political considerations.
“This decision was challenging and is not driven by political motives, at least from this court’s perspective,” Judge Ruiz stated when delivering her verdict.
Previously, the Miami Dade College Board of Trustees had approved the transfer of nearly three acres to the nonprofit organization led by Eric Trump, Donald Trump’s son. The site, currently functioning as an employee parking area, is adjacent to the historic Freedom Tower-a landmark that historically served as a refuge center for Cuban exiles escaping communism during the 1960s and 1970s. While the land is valued at approximately $66 million, experts estimate its market value could exceed $360 million.
Following the board’s approval, Marvin Dunn, a retired professor from Florida International University and a community advocate known for his work in preserving Black history, filed a trump-over-national-guard-plan/” title=”Illinois Takes Legal Action Against … Administration Over Controversial National Guard Plan”>lawsuit challenging the transaction. Dunn contended that Miami Dade College breached Florida statutes and public trust by repurposing public educational property for a private and politically charged project.
“Miami Dade College is a public educational institution and should not be transformed into a custodian of a former president’s personal legacy. This proposed transfer risks diverting land held for educational use to serve private and partisan objectives,” Dunn argued.
He further criticized the college’s board for allegedly failing to provide adequate public notice or transparency regarding the land transfer during the September 23 meeting.
In defense, Miami Dade College’s attorney, Jesus Suarez, maintained that the board complied with all legal protocols and suggested that Dunn’s lawsuit was politically motivated.
“Florida law does not mandate detailed specificity in public notices, as trustees are permitted to discuss any matters they choose during meetings,” Suarez explained.
Dunn, who briefly pursued a congressional bid as a Democrat in 2018 before withdrawing, has been an outspoken opponent of Trump and organized a protest against the land deal last month.
At this stage, it remains uncertain whether the Trump Presidential Library Foundation or Miami Dade College will seek to challenge the judge’s injunction through an appeal.
