DeSantis Unveils “Deportation Depot” to Tackle Immigration Crisis

Florida is stepping up in a big way to protect its people and enforce the rule of law. Governor Ron DeSantis has announced the opening of a new immigration detention center in northern Florida. It’s called the “Deportation Depot,” and it’s exactly what we need to help carry out the Trump administration’s promise to remove illegal immigrants who have no right to remain in our nation.

This new facility is being built at the old Baker Correctional Institution, which has been sitting empty since 2021. It’s located about 43 miles west of Jacksonville and will start with 1,300 beds, with the ability to expand to 2,000. That means more space to hold people who’ve broken the law by coming here illegally and refusing to leave, even after being ordered out of the country.

Make no mistake—this is not about hating immigrants. America is a nation of immigrants, yes, but we are also a nation of laws. There is a legal way to enter this country, and when people ignore that path, they don’t just break the rules—they harm our communities, strain our schools and hospitals, and make a mockery of the people who followed the law to come here legally.

Governor DeSantis is doing what Washington refused to do for years under the failed Biden regime. He is protecting the sovereignty of Florida and standing shoulder to shoulder with President Trump to clean up the mess left behind. The Biden years were a disaster at the border. Millions of people poured in, many of them with criminal records or no background checks at all. Florida alone is now home to an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 illegal immigrants who already have final deportation orders. That means judges have ruled they must leave—but they’re still here.

This new “Deportation Depot” gives the state the power to act. DeSantis is wisely using Florida’s 287(g) program to team up state and local law enforcement with ICE. That means state troopers and local officers can now help find and detain illegal immigrants. In fact, thanks to changes under President Trump, even the Florida Highway Patrol now has the green light to enforce immigration laws during traffic stops. That’s real law and order in action.

And here’s the best part—this isn’t costing taxpayers a fortune. The governor says it will cost just $6 million to get the new site running. That’s a fraction of what it cost to build the first detention site in the Everglades, known as “Alligator Alcatraz.” That facility has faced legal challenges from activist judges and left-wing lawyers who seem to care more about the comfort of illegal immigrants than the safety of American citizens. But despite their efforts to block progress, DeSantis is moving forward.

By choosing the Baker location, Florida gains access to a ready-made facility with close access to a regional airport. That’s important because deporting illegal immigrants often requires air travel. The other site that was being considered—Camp Blanding—just didn’t have the right runway capacity. The Baker site does, and that means faster deportations and less strain on taxpayers.

Some critics are already complaining about conditions at these facilities. But let’s be honest—these are detention centers, not hotels. They meet legal standards, and in fact, the new Baker site will even be air-conditioned, something not required under state prison rules. This is about enforcing the law, not coddling people who broke it.

Florida is proving that a state can take action when the federal government fails. We don’t have to sit back and let illegal immigration destroy our communities. We can stand up, enforce the law, and protect our way of life. That’s what Governor DeSantis is doing. And with President Trump back in charge, the tide is turning.

The Constitution gives us a republic—if we can keep it. That means defending our borders, enforcing our laws, and putting Americans first. Florida is leading the way. It’s time other states followed their example.