Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis (R) announced on Friday that deportation flights have commenced from immigration detention centers in Florida.
According to DeSantis, three flights operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have already departed, with the first one carrying around 100 detainees. The destination of this flight remains unclear.
“The flights are underway. I think we’ll see an increase in frequency, and I anticipate significant rises in numbers,” the governor stated during a press conference.
DeSantis aims for Florida to act as a “power multiplier” for deportations.
“I’m focused on ensuring that I don’t want to be in facilities where undocumented individuals are kept, but rather in those where there is proactive removal and a swift deportation plan,” he elaborated.
Alligator Alcatraz, operational since July 1st, can accommodate up to 2,000 undocumented immigrants. Named for its location in Florida’s Everglades—surrounded by hazardous wildlife—it features a two-mile runway to facilitate deportation flights.
Democrats have criticized the facility for being “cruel and inhumane,” with reports indicating some cells are overcrowded, housing as many as 30 individuals.
On July 13, Kristi Noem, the Executive Director, defended Alligator Alcatraz, asserting that federal detention centers are held to higher standards than local or state facilities and even federal prisons.
Concerns have been raised about whether undocumented immigrants are receiving proper legal processes before deportation.
When questioned about immigration lawyers not having access to their clients, DeSantis responded, stating, “It’s nearly false to claim that these situations require complex legal processes.”
Florida is taking bold steps to align with the president’s immigration policy and is looking to increase its involvement.
The governor highlighted that Alligator Alcatraz could eventually house up to 3,000 undocumented immigrants and expressed interest in launching a joint training facility at Camp Branding for detention purposes.
“It’s about fulfilling your vision and aligning it with what people desire,” he noted. “Florida is taking a leading role among the 50 states. No one else is touching what we’ve accomplished.”
The administration plans to set up similar detention centers in states such as Texas, Mississippi, and South Carolina.
Recently, Defense Secretary Pete Hegses announced that Indiana’s Camp Atterbury and New Jersey’s joint base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst will be repurposed as temporary immigration detention centers.
