Florida is set to bolster its immigration enforcement with the launch of a second detention centre in the north of the state, hot on the heels of the contentious Everglades facility dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz."
Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Thursday that the new centre, already earning the moniker "Deportation Depot," will take up residence at the Baker Correctional Institution, situated west of Jacksonville.
Following the inauguration of the Everglades site, it became apparent to officials that "additional capacity" was necessary to handle the situation. The news comes after US Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem claimed a'Cannibal migrant' tried to eat himself.
"This is an important national priority not only of President Trump but of the American people," DeSantis emphasised.
The forthcoming facility is slated to accommodate over 1,300 detainees, according to officials.
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On track
While DeSantis confirmed that the centre is on track to become operational shortly, he refrained from committing to a specific opening date. He assured that the costs incurred would be covered by federal partners.
"Since the opening of Alligator Alcatraz we are seeing an increase in illegal aliens who are taking the voluntary departure," DeSantis observed.
This development unfolds as a federal judge deliberates on whether to halt construction at Alligator Alcatraz for potentially flouting environmental regulations.
Legal wrangles
Last week, US District Judge Kathleen Williams brought construction at a contentious site to a standstill for a fortnight, following a hearing with testimonies related to an ongoing lawsuit aimed at shutting down the facility. Environmental organisations such as Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity initiated legal action in June against state and federal bodies.
The interim injunction does not impose any limitations on immigration enforcement operations at the centre.
The legal challenge posits that the detention centre poses a threat to the delicate wetlands nearby, which serve as a habitat for protected flora and fauna.
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Secure compound
Nestled within the alligator-infested marshes of the Everglades, the detention centre was erected in just eight days by the state of Florida and is equipped with barbed wire, 200 surveillance cameras, and a 400-strong staff.
During a visit to the centre in July, President Donald Trump made light-hearted remarks about the predator-laden waters encircling the establishment, quipping "we're going to teach them [detainees] how to run away from an alligator if they escape prison."
Moreover, the facility finds itself at the centre of another legal dispute, this time instigated by civil rights groups who allege that the detainees' constitutional rights are being infringed upon. A hearing for this case is slated for later in the month.