Amid legal difficulties in launching the Alligator Alcatraz facility, Florida will establish a new immigrant detention center in the state’s northern region, in Baker County
On August 7, a federal judge halted the construction of Alligator Alcatraz for two weeks amid litigation claiming the facility would hinder the local environment of the Everglades.
The new center, being dubbed “Deportation Depot,” was closed in 2021 due to staffing shortages and is reportedly in need of renovations. It was formerly called Baker County Correctional Institute. The Florida National Guard will staff the center. During a press conference Thursday at the center, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis explained the initiative for the new facility and provided financial details compared to other options.
“In fact, setting up here at Baker, because we have so much existing infrastructure, it’s about a $6 million buildout — that would have been a lot more at Blanding, and obviously it was more at Alligator Alcatraz. Logistically, it makes sense, even though we’re getting reimbursed,” DeSantis said.
Capacity is needed by the state to proceed with processing and deporting immigrants, DeSantis said.
“We have reached the point where we need additional capacity,” he continued. “The reason for this is not just to house people indefinitely. We want to process, stage and then return illegal aliens to their home country.”
“We’ve been securing the border, enforcing immigration laws and removing illegal aliens who are in our society now, sending them back to their home country. We have done more on this than any other state by a country mile,” DeSantis further stated. “There is a demand for this. I’m confident that it will be filled,” DeSantis said of the new center.”
The facility will hold 1,300 detainees and can be expanded to 2,000, according to state officials
