TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — President Trump and Gov. DeSantis will be attending the controversial “Wannial Catraz” opening Tuesday morning.
The $450 million annual facility can accommodate 5,000 immigrants, and the national detention center is funded by FEMA.
Governor DeSantis used the power of emergency to seize control of the site.
“You can bring people, they’re processed, they have an order of removal, they can line up, you can have the federal government to fly on the runway right there,” DeSantis said.
The facility has attracted national attention and is playing rounds on social media. Homeland Security posted a photo of an anigator wearing an “icy” hat on the “X” with the caption “coming soon.”
Outspoken opponents lined up our Highway 41 near the Everglades in protest over the weekend. Environmental activists and Native Americans who participated in the demonstration are worried about their ecosystem impact.
“This is sacred land for the Indigenous people, and they deserve to keep it that way. These are not wild public lands for everyone, but also sacred spaces for the Indigenous communities here,” Betty Osceola said. “This is my home.”
President Trump, Gov. DeSantis and Attorney General Usmeyer are scheduled to take part in the new site’s roundtable Tuesday morning. They discuss illegal immigration.