The government of Florida in the United States is evidently preparing to construct a second immigration detention center, and has signed at least one contract referred to as the “North Detention Facility” in state records.
Florida is planning to build the second detention center in Jacksonville, about 27 miles (43 kilometers) southwest of downtown, at a training base of the Florida National Guard.
According to records in Florida’s public contract database, the Florida Division of Emergency Management has signed a $39,000 contract for the purchase of a portable emergency response weather station and two lightning alert systems, which will help provide “real-time weather monitoring and safety warnings for staff.”
This new facility will increase the capacity for holding undocumented immigrants in Florida, building on the foundation of the state’s first immigration detention center. The Republican Governor Ron DeSantis-led Florida government had previously established a detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz” for illegal immigrants. The center was built at a remote airport in the Florida Everglades used for training, initially able to accommodate around 3,000 detainees, with plans for expansion to approximately 5,000 people. The center was officially opened on July 1.
DeSantis stated last month, “We are looking forward to picking up the pace,” with the state “ready, willing, and able” to expand the scale of deporting undocumented immigrants.
The governor mentioned in late July that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had arranged the first deportation flights to remove about 100 detained undocumented immigrants from “Alligator Alcatraz” to other countries.
He also indicated that the frequency of deporting undocumented immigrants from “Alligator Alcatraz” via flights is expected to increase, rather than keeping them detained there.
“I think you’ll definitely see a significant increase in numbers,” he said during a press conference at the time.
DeSantis also expressed his hope that the U.S. Department of Justice would allow an immigration judge to be stationed at “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center to expedite the deportation process.