DeSantis Opens Florida Deportation Depot Migrant Detention Center

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has opened a new immigration detention center called "Deportation Depot" near Jacksonville, with a capacity of up to 2,000 detainees, as part of his continued effort to enforce immigration laws. This move follows a recent court ruling that temporarily allowed the controversial "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center in the Everglades to remain operational despite a prior order to close it due to environmental concerns and detainee mistreatment allegations. DeSantis also announced plans for a third facility, dubbed the "Panhandle Pokey," in northwest Florida, with discussions underway to potentially open it in Panama City. These centers are part of a broader strategy aligned with President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement agenda, aiming to expedite deportations and manage migrant detainees across different regions of Florida. While the state defends these facilities as necessary for immigration enforcement, critics cite environmental violations and inhumane conditions. DeSantis remains confident in overcoming legal challenges and continuing his administration's mission on immigration enforcement.