New detention facilities spark debate over costs, policy, and the environment across the state
Florida’s new “Deportation Depot” immigration detention facility in Jacksonville opened its doors last week, receiving 117 detainees in its first days of operation. The opening coincided with a court decision allowing the controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center in the Everglades to continue holding detainees, despite lawsuits and community backlash.
The moves are being hailed by state officials as cost-effective solutions to speed up deportations. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier pointed to past federal spending on temporary housing in hotels, claiming the new facilities will save taxpayers money. But many in Miami, home to one of the nation’s largest immigrant communities, are raising alarms about the human, financial, and environmental impact of these centers.
The high price of detention
The startup costs for Deportation Depot totaled an estimated $6 million, while Alligator Alcatraz racks up over $400 million annually. Critics argue that these funds could be redirected toward education, housing, or small business support—investments that would strengthen communities instead of expanding detention networks like “Deportation Depot”…