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DeSantis announces 'Deportation Depot' detention center
Evan Axelbank reports.
SANDERSON, Fla. - Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Thursday that Florida is opening a second immigration detention and deportation facility in addition to "Alligator Alcatraz" – this time using a north Florida prison that will be dubbed "Deportation Depot."
The governor’s announcement came at a news conference at Baker Correctional Institution, which is located in Sanderson less than 20 miles east of Lake City and will serve as the new detention center.
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Florida to open 2nd immigration detention center
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Thursday that Florida will open "Deportation Depot" at Baker Correctional Institution in north Florida, in addition to "Alligator Alcatraz" in the Florida Everglades.
Florida’s focus on immigration
The backstory:
Immigration enforcement has been a focal point for DeSantis since President Donald Trump took office again in January.
In February, the governor signed what he called the toughest anti-illegal immigration bill in the country after a special session of the Florida Legislature that triggered weeks of negotiations.
Pictured: Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a news conference at Baker Correctional Institution on Aug. 14, 2025.
DeSantis has also deputized law enforcement around the state to help with federal immigration enforcement.
In June, the state used emergency powers under the direction of DeSantis to take over the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, a remote airfield in the heart of the Everglades.
Pictured: Governor Ron DeSantis alongside State House Speaker Danny Perez (left) and Florida's Senate President Ben Albritton (right).
The facility, dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," holds about 4,000 detainees and opened July 1, with Trump and other federal officials joining the governor.
The White House and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are encouraging Republican states across the nation to follow Florida's lead and install their own versions of "Alligator Alcatraz." (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
In late July, DeSantis said deportation flights out of Alligator Alcatraz had begun.
Along with Alligator Alcatraz, the governor also publicly revealed plans for a second ICE detention center at Camp Blanding – Florida’s National Guard training headquarters located southwest of Jacksonville.
Pictured: Alligator Alcatraz.
Why Baker Correctional Institution?
What they're saying:
During Thursday’s news conference, however, DeSantis said state officials found fewer logistical issues setting up a second facility at Baker Correctional Institution instead of Camp Blanding.
"There’s a massive part here at Baker Correctional that’s vacant and isn’t being used for any state correction activity," DeSantis said. "Talk about ready-made infrastructure, this is something that’s very appealing from that perspective."
The governor says the facility will be called "Deportation Depot" and will hold about 1,300 detainees. Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie says temporary dormitories could allow for capacity to reach about 2,000.
"This is a priority for the people of our state. This is a priority for the people of this country," DeSantis said.
State officials also said it will cost about $6 million for Deporation Depot to become operational, compared to a projected $75-100 million price tag for a facility at Camp Blanding.
READ: Immigrant detainees could be sent to notorious Louisiana prison soon, reports say
When will Deportation Depot open?
What's next:
Deportation Depot will open soon, according to DeSantis, but no exact date has been announced.
Guthrie says the timeline could be two to three weeks, but that depends on whether structural issues are found in the process of setting up the new facility.
The Source: This story was written with information from a news conference at Baker Correctional Institution on Aug. 14, 2025.