Once again, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has proven why he is perhaps one of the more innovative Republicans in the party today.
Recently, DeSantis made headlines for engineering a widespread rescue effort for Americans stranded in Israel – thereby putting New York to shame, once again.
Now, DeSantis has come up with a rather reptilian plan for dealing with the mass of illegal migrants that have swarmed the Sunshine State over the last several years.
According to a report from The Hill, “unauthorized immigrant communities” across the United States were especially problematic in Florida, wherein the number of illegals “swelled by at least 400,000 people from 2019 to 2022,” a rate “[greater] than any other state in the country.”
Which is precisely why DeSantis had a major proposal regarding the detention of migrants developed, which was just approved by the federal government.
The proposal – a 37-page “Immigration Enforcement Operations Plan” – was submitted to the federal government, further underscoring how “the nature and vast scope of the illegal alien presence deserves a rethinking of detention processes and standards.”
The proposal also highlights why Florida specifically is especially in need of revised standards.
In a statement to The Hill, the governor’s office detailed the confluence of factors that has made Florida a rather unfortunate destination for numerous illegals.
“[Florida’s] geographic position, ambient culture, and the confluence of three major interstate highways (I-10, I-75 and I-95) have made it attractive to criminal organizations smuggling everything from aliens to drugs to guns and money,” the office asserted.
Not to mention human trafficking …
“Governor DeSantis has insisted that the state of Florida, under his leadership, will facilitate the federal government in enforcing immigration law … Utilizing this space and/or others around the state, Florida will continue to lead in immigration enforcement,” the office added.
And that’s precisely where “Alligator Alcatraz” comes in.
In an “Alligator Alcatraz” video posted to X, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier highlighted the apparent value that such a facility would have for holding migrants.
“People get out, there’s not much waiting for them other than alligators and pythons – nowhere to go, nowhere to hide … Within just 30 to 60 days after we begin construction, it could be up and running and could house as many as 1,000 criminal aliens,” Uthmeier declared.
That’s a rather significant figure, to put it mildly … and the location of the detention center might deter future illegal criminals from setting up shop in Florida.
“Time is of the essence … We must act swiftly to ensure readiness and continuity in our statewide operations to assist the federal government with immigration enforcement,” Uthmeier continued.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Kirsti Noem is certainly pleased by the proposal, that’s for sure … in particular the speed with which it was developed.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are working at turbo speed on cost-effective and innovative ways to deliver on the American people’s mandate for mass deportations of criminal illegal aliens … We will expand facilities and bed space in just days, thanks to our partnership with Florida,” Noem asserted.
“Turbo speed” … In other words, the opposite of standard swamp speed from before.
Now, the only question remaining is whether or not a woke judge will attempt to intervene in Florida’s detention plans.
At the time of this writing, no judge appears inclined to stand in DeSantis’s way … though that could always change on a dime.
Author: Ofelia Thornton
