TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The administration of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is preparing to open a second state-run immigration detention facility at a prison in north Florida, a move that escalates the state's aggressive posture on immigration enforcement even as its first such center faces a critical legal challenge.

The new facility, referred to as the "Deportation Depot," is slated to be established within a state prison, according to reports confirmed by the Associated Press. This development signals a significant expansion of Florida’s role in an area traditionally managed by the federal government and comes just as a federal judge is expected to rule on the constitutionality of the state’s existing migrant holding center.

An Expansion of State Power

The plan is the latest in a series of assertive immigration policies enacted under Governor DeSantis. These policies are anchored by a sweeping 2023 law that increased penalties for transporting undocumented individuals into Florida, mandated employer verification of immigration status, and allocated funds for migrant relocations.

That law also authorized the creation of state-run facilities to hold migrants apprehended by state law enforcement. The first of these, located at an isolated former airstrip in the Florida Panhandle, became operational last year. However, it was almost immediately met with legal opposition from civil rights organizations.

Immigrant advocacy groups, including the Southern Poverty Law Center and the American Civil Liberties Union, filed a federal lawsuit arguing that Florida is unconstitutionally usurping federal authority. U.S. immigration law and enforcement are explicitly designated as federal responsibilities. The lawsuit contends that by detaining and processing migrants, Florida is operating its own immigration system in violation of the U.S. Constitution's Supremacy Clause.

A federal judge has heard arguments in the case and a ruling on the legality of the state’s actions is pending. The decision to announce a second facility before this ruling is seen by critics as a defiant continuation of the governor's strategy.

Justification and Criticism

The DeSantis administration has consistently maintained that its actions are necessary due to what it characterizes as a failure by the federal government to secure the nation's borders. Proponents of the state's policies argue they are crucial for public safety and for deterring illegal immigration into Florida. They contend that the state has the right to enforce its own laws and protect its residents from the consequences of federal inaction.

The moniker "Deportation Depot" has drawn sharp criticism from opponents, who call it dehumanizing and inflammatory. Advocacy groups have expressed grave concerns about the conditions within state-run facilities, the lack of due process for detainees, and the potential for civil rights abuses.

"This is not about public safety; it's about political theater," said a spokesperson for a Florida-based immigrant rights coalition in a statement. "Building a second facility while the first is being challenged in court is a reckless use of taxpayer money and a clear sign of disrespect for the rule of law."

The legal battle in Florida is being closely watched nationwide as a potential test case for the limits of state power in immigration enforcement. As several other states have considered or passed similar laws, the outcome of the federal court case could have far-reaching implications for the balance of power between state and federal governments on one of the country's most contentious political issues. The establishment of another detention center raises the stakes in this ongoing jurisdictional conflict.