Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Friday that deportation flights have officially commenced from the Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention facility located in the Everglades. He revealed that “hundreds” of detainees have been processed for deportation, with several hundred already relocated either to their home countries or to other states.
DeSantis, emphasizing Florida’s commitment to support the Trump administration’s stringent immigration policies, stated, “The whole purpose is to make this be a place that can facilitate increased frequency and numbers of deportations of illegal aliens.” The facility has a runway designed to accommodate deportation planes.
The Alligator Alcatraz facility, constructed under a cooperation agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), aims to streamline the deportation process, which remains under federal oversight. During the press conference, Garrett Ripa, a senior ICE official in Florida, confirmed that “two or three” deportation flights had already departed from the facility.
DeSantis mentioned an increase in the frequency of flights, supported by recent congressional funding for immigration enforcement. He highlighted Florida’s efforts to leverage state resources to aid federal immigration enforcement, suggesting that the Justice Department is close to approving a plan for Florida National Guard lawyers to operate with powers similar to federal immigration judges, expediting the adjudication process for detainees.
Additionally, Larry Keefe, executive director of Florida’s Board of Immigration Enforcement, indicated that immigration arrests in the state are anticipated to surge. He disclosed that about 1,800 Florida troopers have been deputized as federal immigration agents, with further augmentations in law enforcement who can assist in immigration enforcement.
Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, stated that the Alligator Alcatraz facility can presently hold 2,000 detainees, with plans to expand this capacity to 4,000. While state officials affirmed that they were prepared for inclement weather during hurricane season, reports from detainees have raised serious concerns about the facility’s conditions, including reports of unsanitary practices and limitations on legal access.
DeSantis acknowledged the potential for storm-related challenges, asserting that contingency plans are in place and underscoring the state’s experience in dealing with such situations.
Hope remains that the continued operation and expansion of the facility may lead to a more efficient immigration process, although the current conditions reported by detainees warrant serious attention to ensure humane treatment.