Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is planning to open a second immigration detention facility called “Deportation Depot” at a state prison. This comes as a federal judge considers the future of the state’s first immigrant holding center, located at an isolated airstrip in the Florida Everglades, known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
DeSantis announced Thursday that the new facility will be at the Baker Correctional Institution, a state prison about 43 miles (69 kilometers) west of downtown Jacksonville. The facility is expected to have 1,300 immigration detention beds, though officials said it could eventually expand to 2,000.
After opening the Everglades facility last month, DeSantis said the second detention center is necessary because President Donald Trump’s administration requires more capacity to detain and deport immigrants.
“There is a demand for this,” DeSantis said. “I’m confident that it will be filled.”
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem praised Republican governors for expanding immigration detention, calling Florida’s partnership a model for other state-run facilities.
Facility Could Open in Two to Three Weeks
DeSantis highlighted that using an existing prison in northern Florida makes the project faster and more cost-effective. He estimated the build-out at $6 million, compared with the hundreds of millions spent on tents and trailers at the southern Everglades site.
“This part of the facility is not being used right now for the state prisoners. It just gives us an ability to go in, stand it up quickly, stand it up cheaply,” DeSantis said, calling the prison “ready-made.”
Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said the facility could be operational in two to three weeks, though renovations may be needed.
The prison had been planned for “temporary” closure in 2021 due to staffing shortages. Guthrie noted, “A building that’s been dormant now for a couple of years is going to have some unforeseen challenges.”
Upgrades include air conditioning, which is not required under Florida’s prison standards, despite the hot climate.
Florida National Guard to Help Staff Facility
Staffing will be provided by the Florida National Guard and state contractors “as needed,” DeSantis said. The Guard has previously assisted in running state prisons due to chronic staff shortages and has now been mobilized to support immigration enforcement efforts.
DeSantis had earlier considered opening a second facility at Camp Blanding, a Florida National Guard training site about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southwest of Jacksonville. Camp Blanding was a major U.S. Army training facility during World War II and now serves as a “continuity of government” site for Florida’s executive branch.
However, DeSantis said the Baker facility was a better option because of its available capacity and proximity to a regional airport. “Blanding does have air capacity, but probably not a big enough runway to handle large planes,” he said.
Everglades Facility Faces Legal Challenges
DeSantis promised detainees at the new facility will receive “the same services” available at the Everglades site.
Attorneys representing detainees at Alligator Alcatraz have described the conditions there as harsh, reporting that some detainees showing COVID-19 symptoms were not separated from the general population. Rainwater floods tents, and officers allegedly pressure detainees to sign voluntary removal orders before they can meet their lawyers.
“Recent conditions at Alligator Alcatraz have fueled a sense of desperation among detainees,” attorneys wrote in a court filing.
Civil rights lawyers filed documents Wednesday ahead of a hearing Monday, requesting that U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz guarantee detainees have confidential access to attorneys, which they claim has been limited.
Florida officials dispute the claims, noting that videoconferencing began on July 15, and in-person meetings started July 28. All requests for detainees to meet with attorneys have been granted, according to state officials. The first detainees arrived at the facility in early July.
Attorneys also asked the judge to clarify which immigration court has jurisdiction over the facility, so detainees can petition for bond or release. They argue federal immigration courts in Florida have told them they do not have jurisdiction over the Everglades detainees.
