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Emigration and immigration

DeSantis' Administration Kept Local Officials in the Dark About Immigration Detention Center in Everglades

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

DeSantis' administration secretly built an immigration detention center in the Everglades, despite local officials being in the dark about the plans. Emails obtained by the AP show that county officials were still trying to verify rumors about the facility, while state officials were already on the ground, coordinating construction and bypassing local laws and regulations. The facility, which was designed to house thousands of migrants, was built in a matter of days.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Florida Division of Emergency Management, led by Kevin Guthrie, was involved in the construction of the detention center, with Guthrie stating that the state intended to "work collaboratively" with the counties.
  • Local officials were left in the dark about the plans for the detention center, with one official, Rick LoCastro, asking if he was "missing something" after being informed of the plans by a concerned resident.
  • The executive order signed by DeSantis granted the state sweeping authority to suspend "any statute, rule or order" seen as slowing the response to the immigration "emergency."
  • The state seized county-owned land in Miami-Dade County to build the detention center, despite local officials being in the dark about the plans.
  • Companies with ties to DeSantis and other Republicans were awarded multimillion-dollar contracts for the construction of the detention center.
  • The facility was officially opened on July 1, with DeSantis, Trump, and other officials in attendance.

Statistics:

  • The detention center was designed to house thousands of migrants.
  • The facility was built in a matter of days.
  • Companies with ties to DeSantis and other Republicans were awarded multimillion-dollar contracts for the construction of the detention center.
  • The executive order signed by DeSantis granted the state sweeping authority to suspend "any statute, rule or order" seen as slowing the response to the immigration "emergency."

Sources:

  • The Associated Press
  • Report for America
  • The Washington Post
  • The New York Times
  • Great Britain
  • Germany
  • Switzerland

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