Staff Writer
Deportation flights have officially commenced from the state-operated immigrant detention facility located in the Florida Everglades, Governor Ron DeSantis announced during a press conference held on-site Friday. The announcement comes more than three weeks after the initial group of detainees was transferred to the center, which is housed at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport.
According to DeSantis, 100 individuals have been deported by federal authorities from the facility, while several hundred others have been flown to other processing centers, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) staging hub in Louisiana. Additionally, the governor stated that approximately two dozen detainees opted for voluntary departure.
The detention center, which has drawn scrutiny from advocacy groups and immigration attorneys, has become the subject of growing legal and public concern. A class action lawsuit filed by detainees alleges inadequate access to legal counsel, citing barriers to attorney communication and visits. The legal action names the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, ICE, Governor DeSantis, and the director of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management (DEM) as defendants.
In response to mounting criticism, DeSantis defended the state’s management of the facility and rejected reports from detainees regarding deteriorating conditions. Detainees have claimed issues such as spoiled food, limited access to medical care, insufficient showers, and malfunctioning restrooms. These allegations, which have been echoed in legal filings and advocacy reports, were dismissed by the governor as unfounded.
The Everglades facility is a central part of Florida’s expanded immigration enforcement initiative, which includes a controversial program allowing the state to detain undocumented individuals and coordinate with federal authorities for removal. The development is part of a broader immigration policy strategy that has drawn both praise from supporters and sharp criticism from immigrant rights organizations.
As deportation operations continue, the facility remains under heightened scrutiny, with civil liberties groups and legal advocates calling for independent oversight and improved conditions for those held in state custody.
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