Florida Opens Deportation Depot Holding 117 Detainees, Expands Immigration Detentions

Florida has opened a new immigration detention facility called 'Deportation Depot' at the former Baker Correctional Institution in Baker County, supplementing the existing Everglades facility known as 'Alligator Alcatraz.' The new center began accepting detainees on Tuesday, housing 117 individuals so far, and has a capacity of 1,500, with plans to fill it quickly as part of Governor Ron DeSantis' support for President Donald Trump's mass deportation initiative. The reopening coincides with a federal appellate court ruling allowing the continued operation of Alligator Alcatraz despite environmental and tribal lawsuits seeking its closure. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier emphasized the state's commitment to using all available detention spaces to expedite deportations, contrasting this with previous federal spending on hotel rooms for detainees. However, Democratic lawmakers criticized the high costs involved, citing millions spent on startup and annual operations, and questioned the state's priorities regarding families. The state is also exploring additional detention sites, including one in the Panhandle, to further its immigration enforcement efforts.