TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday defended the state’s efforts to provide immigrant detention beds, even as the population at the “Alligator Alcatraz” facility has reportedly been sharply reduced.
Details: DeSantis commented in Orlando as state and federal officials are asking an appeals court to delay a federal judge’s order last week requiring the Everglades detention facility, which opened July 1, to be shut down within 60 days
Federal officials told the judge, in a filing Saturday, that the facility’s beds are needed to prevent law enforcement officers from having to release “criminal” undocumented immigrants because of overcrowding in other detention facilities.
DeSantis said the state is working to find space for more beds in addition to Alligator Alcatraz and a planned new facility in Baker County near Jacksonville.
