OCHOPEE, Fla. — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that the controversial immigration detention facility dubbed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ was designed from the start to be a temporary operation.
The Republican governor’s remarks coincided with reports from The New York Times indicating that state and federal authorities have begun preliminary discussions about closing the Everglades facility, which DeSantis stated has handled and deported 22,000 individuals since beginning operations last summer.
‘At some point, we will, of course, break it down. That was always the goal,’ the governor told reporters during a press conference in Lakeland.
According to DeSantis, the facility will cease operations if the Department of Homeland Security determines it has adequate resources to accommodate detainees at other locations.
While DHS officials haven’t explicitly requested the facility’s closure, such discussions have occurred since Markwayne Mullin became the new secretary in late March, and ‘you take a fresh look at these things,’ the governor explained.
Individuals held at the facility have reported substandard living conditions and challenges in obtaining legal representation.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement Thursday refuting claims that it was pressuring Florida to shut down operations at the site.
‘Florida continues to be a valuable partner in advancing President Trump’s immigration agenda, and DHS appreciates their support,’ the department stated. ‘DHS continuously evaluates detention needs and requirements to ensure they meet the latest operational requirements.’
The state has invested over $1 million daily to operate the facility, with DeSantis expecting federal reimbursement. Florida has yet to receive the $608 million it has requested.
According to a handbook released during litigation concerning detainee access to legal counsel, individuals are separated based on their criminal background and flight risk assessment. The document reveals that detainees must remain silent and motionless during routine head counts, with violations resulting in punishment for both the individual and their entire dormitory through confinement to housing units.
