Florida just secured a massive $608 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to fund its immigration detention centers, including the Everglades facility dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”
The money, awarded through FEMA’s new Detention Support Grant Program, will cover construction, housing, and equipment costs. Florida was the only state to apply for the grant. Governor Ron DeSantis celebrated the news, saying it proves the state would be reimbursed for its immigration spending.
The grant also supports future projects, such as the planned “Panhandle Pokey” detention center. ICE recently added another $38 million for law enforcement involved in detaining undocumented immigrants, boosting Florida’s ongoing immigration enforcement efforts.
