Florida is looking to expand its efforts in supporting the federal government’s crackdown on illegal immigration by establishing a second detention facility. Governor Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday the possibility of constructing this additional detention center at Camp Blanding, a training site for the Florida National Guard situated approximately 30 miles southwest of Jacksonville. This initiative comes alongside another facility currently being developed at an isolated airfield in the Everglades, ominously referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz” by state officials.
The site under development in the Everglades has incited unrest among environmentalists and human rights activists due to its location in an ecologically sensitive area 45 miles west of Miami. Critics have branded these areas as inappropriate and inhumane for housing detained immigrants due to their remote and challenging environments. Yet, DeSantis argues that both sites will contribute significantly to the nationwide immigration detention capacity, complementing the administration’s aspiration to substantially increase the number of detention beds from 41,000 to over 100,000.
Using a series of temporary structures, including heavy-duty tents and trailers, the state aims to offer 5,000 immigration detention beds by July. This expansion would additionally relieve local law enforcement burdens by offering more space for detainees. The cost of operating these facilities has been estimated at $245 per bed per day, culminating in roughly $450 million annually, a sum to be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Advocates and critics, however, argue that this initiative represents a politically charged move characterized by cruelty. They express deep concern over already existing conditions in a federally-managed detention center in South Florida, plagued by inadequate water and food supplies, unhygienic conditions, and insufficient medical care. The novel site near the Everglades raises additional concerns about possible environmental status modifications and human rights violations.
In response, state officials are developing strategies for detainee evacuation should a natural disaster threaten the facility. With another active hurricane season expected, the emphasis is on formulating comprehensive emergency plans to ensure the safe relocation of detainees if required. Mandatory evacuation plans would activate in the event of a tropical storm surpassing the structural wind ratings of the detention center, which state representatives assure is a routine measure for all state-operated facilities. These evacuation procedures will be site-specific and responsive to the developing storm paths and existing facility populations.
The concerted push to enhance immigration enforcement through Florida’s emergency management efforts occurs amidst ongoing concerns over the department’s resource allocation capability for disaster response. With federal support potentially decreasing in anticipation of proposed policy changes post-2025 hurricane season, more pressure may fall on states to deliver emergency and recovery services to their constituents following severe weather events.