DeSantis uses emergency powers to seize ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ from Miami-Dade County
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will use emergency powers to take control of Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport away from Miami-Dade County and build "Alligator Alcatraz."
In a statement, the governor's office said the Florida Division of Emergency Management offered to buy the land from Miami-Dade County, but County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava responded with an "unreasonable" request of $190 million on Monday, June 23.
In a letter, state emergency management director Kevin Guthrie told Cava: "Time is of the essence. We must act swiftly to ensure readiness and continuity in our statewide operations to assist the federal government with immigration enforcement. The Division remains committed to working collaboratively with all appropriate authorities."
The governor's office said the construction of "Alligator Alcatraz," the nickname for what's envisioned to be a massive immigration detention site, wouldn't require the removal of vegetation, additional paving or permanent construction, a concern for the indigenous groups who live in Big Cypress.
The airstrip is about 1 mile away from Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and Seminole Tribe of Florida villages, and both tribes also have rights to live in and harvest plants and animals in Big Cypress.
Emergency Management will set up temporary shelters used for natural disaster response to house detained immigrants, and water, sewage and power will be provided by mobile utilities, the governor's office said, adding that "operations on site will be completely self-contained. Florida will continue to lead on immigration enforcement."
The move is part of the state's "blueprint" for mass deportation, outlined in a 37-page immigration enforcement operations plan officials say will be a model for efforts across the country.
Florida to house immigrants in 'soft-sided' centers
The plan, unveiled in mid-May, explicitly says the state wants to house detained immigrants in soft-sided detention centers on state-owned airplane runways.
That's in order to "establish routine air corridors to those nations routinely receiving repatriated illegal aliens. This would be especially useful in prompt removal of aliens under unexecuted Final Orders of Removal."
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced "Alligator Alcatraz" last week on June 19, or Juneteenth, saying the temporary detention center – surrounded by the Everglades – could open in 30 to 60 days.
A senior Department of Homeland Security official told the Miami Herald in a statement on Monday that the state will pay $450 million a year to run the facility at cost, with the ability to seek reimbursement from the federal government.
In the state's immigration enforcement plan, however, the state says reimbursement by the federal government is unlikely.
“The federal government has shown itself to be very hesitant to commit to any form of reimbursement to past or future immigration operations. There may come a time when, without federal assistance, a long-term immigration support mission may become fiscally untenable,” the plan says.
The state recently passed a $115 billion budget, $3 billion less than the previous year, but that doesn't include operating costs for the facility.
On June 23, the day Cava sent the state a counter offer to buy the land that includes the airstrip for "Alligator Alcatraz," DeSantis said he wanted to veto $500 million from the budget.
This is a developing news story and may be updated. Check back later for more.
Ana Goñi-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the Paste BN Network – Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com.