Florida Awarded $608M Federal Grant for Everglades Immigration Detention Centers

Florida has been awarded a $608.4 million federal grant through the Detention Support Grant Program to cover costs related to the Everglades immigration detention center, known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” and the Deportation Depot facility in Baker County. The grant, part of a FEMA initiative originally created under President Donald Trump's administration to encourage state participation in federal immigration enforcement, will reimburse expenses for construction, housing, feeding, and equipment, including plans for a new facility in northwest Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis highlighted the grant as validation that the federal government would cover these costs rather than state taxpayers. However, the reimbursement process requires FEMA to review expenses, and the release of funds has not yet occurred. The detention center faces legal challenges due to environmental concerns, with a federal judge previously ordering its closure, but an appellate panel paused the injunction pending environmental impact study requirements tied to federal funding. Meanwhile, Fort Lauderdale is considering an $88 million federal grant aimed at flood recovery, housing repairs, and infrastructure improvements following severe flooding in 2023, which is separate from the immigration-related funding but reflects broader federal disaster and housing assistance efforts in Florida.