SANDERSON, Fla. — A Florida judge’s recent ruling to close the controversial immigration detention facility, often referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz,” is likely to cost taxpayers more than $200 million. The decision adds to ongoing concerns about conditions within the facility, nestled in the Everglades, where reports have surfaced regarding unsanitary environments and detainees being denied access to legal support.
State Representative Angie Nixon criticized the state’s decision to proceed with operations at the facility despite awareness of its impending closure. “They knew this place was going to get shut down,” Nixon said, referencing the state’s plans to replace it with another detention center in Baker County. “We should be outraged.”
Plans for the new facility, dubbed the “Deportation Depot,” are advancing at the site of the former Baker Correctional Institution. Governor Ron DeSantis has defended the state’s approach, asserting the necessity of maintaining deportation efforts and addressing detention capacity within Florida. “We have to continue with this mission,” DeSantis stated. “It’s important and ultimately it’s going to be good for the state of Florida.”
Maria Garcia, of the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance, voiced her apprehensions about the forthcoming detention center and plans to organize a protest against it. She highlighted the case of Diana, who is known in the local community for her role as a coffee shop owner. Diana was detained during a mental health crisis despite her legal efforts to secure immigration status. “She is a valued community member,” Garcia noted, emphasizing the impact of detention policies on individuals contributing to their communities.
The Department of Homeland Security responded to the recent judicial ruling, claiming that they are working to comply by relocating detainees. In a statement, they criticized the ruling as an obstacle to fulfilling what they described as the American people’s desire for stringent immigration enforcement aimed at serious offenders. Officials underscored that they view current administration policies as a detriment to national security, insisting that they will continue efforts to remove dangerous individuals from the country.
The facility known as Alligator Alcatraz, which has the capacity to house 3,000 detainees, is ordered to close by late October. As Floridians grapple with the implications of these developments, the conversation around immigration enforcement, detention conditions, and state responsibilities continues to evolve.
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