Florida has opened a new temporary immigration detention facility in North Florida to expand the state’s capacity to hold and deport individuals in the country illegally.
The Baker Correctional Institution in Sanderson will be used to detain and process migrants prior to removal. The facility has space for more than 1,300 detainees and will operate with the same services as an existing state-run site. Officials said the location’s proximity to Lake City Airport, about 15 minutes away, will allow for quicker deportation flights.
According to the state, costs for the facility will be reimbursed by federal partners. Florida currently has more 287(g)-certified officers than any other state, a program that allows local law enforcement to assist federal agencies in identifying and removing individuals without legal status.
The new detention center is part of Florida’s broader immigration enforcement strategy, which includes working alongside federal authorities to process, stage, and return migrants to their countries of origin.
