Florida to open second immigration detention center

Governor DeSantis moves to open a north Florida detention facility while a federal ruling weighs the Everglades camp’s fate.

Florida advances plan for second immigration detention center

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration is moving to open a second immigration detention facility at the Baker Correctional Institution, a state prison about 43 miles west of downtown Jacksonville. The site is expected to hold 1,300 immigration detention beds, with potential to expand to 2,000, and officials say the build-out could cost about $6 million. The plan comes after the state opened an Everglades facility last month, which critics have labeled Alligator Alcatraz and argued carries harsh conditions for detainees.

DeSantis said the new site would help the federal government hold and deport more migrants, arguing there is demand for additional capacity and that the Bakers site is “ready-made” for a quick, inexpensive setup. Officials say the facility could be operational in two to three weeks. The Baker plan relies on staffing from the Florida National Guard and state contractors, as the state has leaned on Guard support to run prisons amid staffing shortages. The state had previously planned to close Baker in 2021 due to staff shortages, and renovations now focus on climate controls like air conditioning to suit Florida’s heat. The administration had also explored Camp Blanding, a National Guard training facility, but said Baker’s capacity and proximity to a regional airport made it the better fit. Civil rights attorneys have raised questions about detainee rights at Alligator Alcatraz, including access to lawyers and jurisdiction for petitions, as a federal judge weighs the center’s fate.

The plan signals a political and logistical push to expand detention capacity, framed by supporters as a necessary tool for federal removal efforts. Critics view it as an expensive show of force that shifts expense and human costs onto state shoulders without addressing root causes. The mix of speed and cost cutting—using a pre-existing prison and National Guard staffing—raises questions about long-term strategy, accountability, and the welfare of detainees. The case in the Everglades also casts a shadow: courts are weighing whether detainees can access confidential counsel and whether Florida’s setup falls within federal jurisdiction for immigration matters. The broader trend is clear: several states are betting that bigger detention networks can drive policy outcomes, even as legal and humanitarian concerns persist.

Highlights

The future will tell if speed and scale improve outcomes or compound political and legal frictions.