Overview

• Florida used emergency powers to commandeer the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport for the new detention site without county approval.
• Construction relies on heavy-duty tents and trailers with the surrounding wetlands—home to alligators and pythons—serving as natural security, and capacity will grow from 1,000 to 5,000 beds within 30 to 60 days.
• The facility’s operating costs are estimated at $450 million per year, which Florida will front and then seek reimbursement from FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program.
• Environmental organizations, local officials and the Miccosukee Tribe warn that rapid development could damage the Everglades ecosystem and they have decried the lack of environmental review.
• DeSantis is evaluating a second site at Camp Blanding for additional migrant detention capacity to bolster President Trump’s planned mass deportation strategy.