O’Copy, Fla. (WFLA) — President Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state and federal leaders attended a roundtable Tuesday morning to open a new “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center in O’Copy.
The new facility can hold up to 3,000 detainees and could expand if necessary, said Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Department of Emergency Management.
Also present were Homeland Security Director Christie Noem, Deputy Chief of Staff of the White House Stephen Miller, Florida Attorney General James Usmierer and U.S. Rep. Byron Donald (R-FL).
Trump praised Florida officials for their efforts. The governor said the operation would begin upon the president’s departure.
“Suddenly, the facility will house some of the most frightening immigrants, some of the most vicious people on the planet,” the president said. “We are surrounded by miles of dangerous swamps, and the only way we can do that is actually deportation.”
Many have expressed concern about the stability of the facility facing the hurricane, and Guthrie said he took that into consideration.
“The detention facility includes more than 158,000 square feet of homes and is fully aluminum framed, rated as winds of 110 mph or high-end category 2,” Guthrie said.
He said the facility is equipped with power, a backup generator, a 24/7 medical facility, pharmacies, air conditioning and legal assistance services. There is also onsite fire service and EMS to avoid burdens on local first responders.
Desantis has promoted the new centre as a “one-stop shop” which also has the ability to carry out deportation flights.
“They’ve come here and they’ve already been ordered to be deported, you drive them down the runway and then they’re gone,” the governor said. “It’s a one-stop shop.”
