Florida has expanded its immigration detention infrastructure with the launch of a second migrant detention facility, officially named ‘Deportation Depot’, which is now accepting detainees. Located in the former Baker Correctional Institution in Sanderson, the facility is part of the state’s strategy to increase detention capacity, complementing the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ facility in the Everglades, where operations resumed following a federal appeals court’s decision to temporarily halt a judge’s order to shut down the facility.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier emphasized the state’s intent to utilize the new site efficiently, with the facility already retrofitted to house up to 1,500 detainees. The first detainees arrived on Tuesday, with 117 people currently in custody as of Friday. The state plans to fill the facility quickly, leveraging its pre-existing infrastructure to support the state’s broader immigration enforcement mission.
The decision comes amid ongoing legal challenges over the environmental impact of the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ facility, which was recently allowed to continue operations while its legal dispute proceeds. A federal judge had initially ordered the state to reduce operations at the Everglades facility and transfer detainees to other locations, but the appeals court’s ruling reversed that decision temporarily. Governor Ron DeSantis dismissed claims of imminent closure for the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ facility, stating it remains open for business as the state’s deportation mission continues.
Legal battles over the facility’s compliance with federal environmental laws have been a central issue. A lawsuit filed by environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe alleges that the state and federal authorities failed to conduct a proper environmental review for the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ facility, which is located in sensitive wetlands housing protected plant and animal species. President Donald Trump, who previously visited the facility, had suggested it could serve as a model for future detention centers across the country as part of a broader deportation strategy.
The expansion of immigration detention capacity in Florida reflects broader national debates over immigration policy and legal boundaries. With both facilities now operational, the state aims to maintain its position as a hub for immigration enforcement. However, the legal challenges and environmental concerns underscore the complex intersection of public safety, legal compliance, and ecological preservation in these efforts.