Florida may open a third state-run immigration detention center closer to Pensacola, dubbed the “Panhandle Pokey.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis revealed the state was searching for a location for a third center during a press conference on Sept. 2 when he was asked about a federal judge’s ruling that halted further transfers to the detention center in South Florida known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
DeSantis said the state is appealing the ruling and will soon begin operating a second facility in North Florida called “Deportation Depot” and is searching for a location for a third in the Panhandle.
“We’re actually in the process of figuring out how we can set up a Panhandle Pokey, and we’re going to have that in the Panhandle,” DeSantis said. “ And so the mission continues.”
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It’s not clear yet where the state is considering locating the “Panhandle Pokey,” but DeSantis pointed out that the two other facilities have quick access to airports for deportation flights. “Alligator Alcatraz” is built on the abandoned 1960s-era Everglades Jetport property that had become a training runway run by Miami-Dade County, and “Deportation Depot” is 13 miles from the Lake City Gateway Airport
DeSantis said the need for a third location was raised during a conversation with law enforcement officials in Panama City.
“You’re in the Panhandle, sending to Alligator Alcatraz, that’s a long way,” DeSantis said. “Even sending to the Deportation Depot in North Florida, that could be three to five hours, depending on where you are in the Panhandle. And so, they were like, is there a way we can get a facility that’s going to be closer to us? And so we said, yes.”
DeSantis was in Panama City two weeks ago to announce the Florida Highway Patrol had carried out a four-day operation and arrested more than 200 people for immigration violations. Officials said that immigration enforcement will now be a standard role of FHP under an agreement with the federal government.
At least 50 of those arrested in the operation in Northwest Florida were transported to Alligator Alcatraz just hours before a federal judge blocked further transfers to the facility pending a trial, finding it likely the state ignored required environmental reviews required in the Everglades and the Big Cypress Reserve, where the facility is located.
DeSantis said he was confident the state would overturn the injunction on appeal and keep “Alligator Alcatraz” operating.
The facilities are being opened under a declaration of emergency by the governor, and the state has spent more than $218 million. DeSantis said the federal government will reimburse all of those funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“Alligator Alcatraz” has a capacity to hold 3,000 people and can be expanded to 5,000 while the “Deportation Depot” has a capacity of 1,300 people.
DeSantis said there are 70,000 people living in Florida with final deportation orders that haven’t been carried out.
“You need infrastructure to do it,” DeSantis said.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Panhandle Pokey may be Alligator Alcatraz Northwest Florida alternative