DeSantis Announces Second Immigration Detention Center ‘Deportation Depot’

(NORTH FLORIDA) Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Aug. 14, 2025, announced a second state-run immigration detention facility in north Florida, officially called the “Deportation Depot.” The site will operate at the Baker Correctional Institution, about 43 miles west of Jacksonville, and is designed for 1,300 beds, with room to expand to 2,000 if demand rises.

The move comes one month after the debut of Florida’s first dedicated site at an Everglades airstrip, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” and aligns with President Trump’s push for large-scale removals nationwide.

Purpose and Immediate Plans

DeSantis framed the expansion as direct support for federal operations, saying the state needs more space to hold people during fast-track processing for deportation.
“There is a demand for this. I’m confident it will be filled,” he said, signaling the immigration detention facility will come online as soon as final logistics are complete.

State officials say the site is intended to centralize detention and transfers to federal custody as mass deportation operations ramp up. The announcement highlights a two-pronged Florida system: new state laws that tighten enforcement and fresh capacity to detain people arrested under those laws or by federally deputized officers.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, Florida’s strategy places the state at the center of the national removal effort and could become a model for other states seeking expanded roles in immigration control.

Facility Details and Timeline

State officials describe the Baker site as a hub for intake, detention, and transfer to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

• People arrested under state charges tied to immigration or picked up by officers working under federal authority will be held there while files are reviewed and transfers arranged.
• The state expects an “imminent” opening after final staffing and transport plans are completed.

The Baker Correctional Institution location provides road access to Jacksonville and to regional airports used for removals. Florida’s first site, “Alligator Alcatraz,” sits on an isolated runway in the Everglades and opened in July. Together, the two facilities form the backbone of a broader state infrastructure designed to hold people quickly and move them to federal custody for deportation proceedings.

State leaders stress that the Baker buildout can scale: capacity can increase from 1,300 to 2,000 beds if needed. That flexibility, they argue, is essential as federal operations widen and 287(g) partnerships place more local officers in positions to enforce federal immigration law across Florida.

State-Federal Enforcement Strategy

The facility announcement follows a sweeping 2025 legislative package supporters say gives Florida some of the strictest state-level immigration tools in the country.

Key elements of the package include:

• Creation of a State Board of Immigration Enforcement, with an executive director (Larry Keefe, a former federal prosecutor who previously led state-backed migrant transport programs).
• More than $298 million allocated for hiring, training, and coordination with federal partners.
• Mandatory participation in 287(g) for every state and county agency with more than 25 officers, deputizing local officers to carry out federal immigration functions.
• New state crimes, including unauthorized re-entry and illegal voting by undocumented immigrants.
• A provision imposing a mandatory death penalty for undocumented immigrants convicted of capital felonies (widely expected to face court challenges).
• Ending in-state tuition for undocumented students at public colleges, effective July 1, 2025.
• $1,000 bonuses to officers who serve on federal task forces tied to immigration operations.

Florida has also entered memoranda of agreement with ICE so that state units — including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida State Guard, Highway Patrol, and Department of Agricultural Law Enforcement — can:

• Question and arrest.
• Detain and issue detainers.
• Transport people to ICE-approved facilities.

Officials say this coordination allows faster handoffs to federal custody once files are ready for deportation.

Federal measures under the Trump administration that mirror the timing of Florida’s push include a return to strict border policies such as Title 42 and Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), alongside possible rollbacks of humanitarian parole and DACA protections. Supporters in Florida argue the state must add detention space to keep pace.

Reactions and Concerns

Civil rights groups, some lawmakers, and legal advocates raise several concerns:

• The plan risks overreach and may strain local resources.
• Mandatory 287(g) participation could amplify errors in arrests and detainers, increasing the chance that U.S. citizens or lawful residents are wrongly held.
• The death penalty provision is likely to become a major legal flashpoint.
• Ending in-state tuition penalizes students who grew up in Florida and may force withdrawals or higher costs.

For families near the Baker site, the policies may change daily life:

• Deputized officers can question people on immigration issues during traffic stops or investigations and then initiate detainers that lead to transfer to the Deportation Depot.
• Parents fear routine stops could split households.
• Small businesses worry about losing workers overnight.
• College students who counted on in-state tuition now face out-of-state rates or may withdraw.

Supporters counter that the new capacity and rules are necessary to deter unlawful entry and remove people who re-enter after deportation or commit serious crimes. They argue the state has a duty to back federal operations and protect public safety.

Oversight, Legal Challenges, and What to Watch

Oversight will run through the State Board of Immigration Enforcement, led by Larry Keefe, with regular updates to lawmakers. The board will track:

• Operations at the immigration detention facility
• Staffing and transport logistics
• Any expansion to 2,000 beds

Federal partners at ICE and the Department of Homeland Security will handle final custody and removal decisions. For official information on the federal detention and removal process, see ICE’s website at https://www.ice.gov.

Legal tests are expected. Attorneys are preparing challenges to parts of the 2025 package, focusing especially on:

1. The capital penalty for undocumented defendants.
2. State mandates that push local officers into federal roles.

Florida officials say they are ready to defend the laws, noting that other parts of the package mirror past 287(g) agreements that survived review.

As the Baker Correctional Institution site opens, all sides will watch numbers: who is detained, for how long, and how quickly people move from arrest to ICE transfer.

With “Alligator Alcatraz” already running and the Deportation Depot opening soon, Florida has moved fast to build a system that can hold, sort, and transfer large numbers of people under state and federal authority. Whether the system delivers the results its backers promise — and whether courts allow every piece to stand — will shape how other states respond if they try to build their own versions in the months ahead.