Florida is moving closer to expanding its network of migrant detention centers, as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently toured a large industrial warehouse in central Florida. The building, located about 30 minutes from Walt Disney World near Orlando, is being assessed as a possible new detention site as the state looks to increase its capacity to hold migrants.
The visit comes as Governor Ron DeSantis continues to push for more detention facilities across Florida. Since September, he has said that the state’s existing centers, including Alligator Alcatraz in the Everglades and Deportation Depot near the Georgia border, are too far apart. He wants additional sites, especially closer to Florida’s west coast and central regions.
At the start of the year, DeSantis said he was waiting for approval from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to open another detention center in the Florida Panhandle. He argued that the federal government does not have enough detention space and said Florida is ready to help. DeSantis also claimed the state has detained around 20,000 migrants under the Trump administration.
The warehouse visited by ICE is more than 37,000 square meters in size and was built in 2024. It is surrounded by forest land in Orange County and sits near Orlando International Airport. According to promotional materials, the site has high ceilings, nearly 100 loading docks, large parking areas, and office space. It is about three times larger than Alligator Alcatraz, which can hold up to 3,000 people.
ICE officials described the visit as an early and exploratory step. Senior ICE adviser David Venturella said no final decision has been made and that the process is still at a very early stage. The Florida governor’s office also confirmed that DHS has not approved any new facility yet and that no formal decision has been reached.
Local leaders and Democratic lawmakers have strongly opposed the plan. Officials in Orange County said they have not received any permit applications or rezoning requests. Lawmakers raised concerns about turning a commercial warehouse into a detention center, warning of humanitarian risks and possible damage to the local environment and tourism economy.
Human rights groups have also criticised Florida’s existing detention centers. Reports from detainees at Alligator Alcatraz and Deportation Depot describe overcrowding, limited medical care, poor food and hygiene, lack of drinking water, and restricted access to lawyers. Official data shows that at least 32 people died in U.S. immigration custody last year, including five in Florida.
The ICE visit is linked to Florida’s wider immigration crackdown, known as Operation Tidal Wave. According to DeSantis, the operation has led to more than 10,000 migrant arrests, with nearly another 10,000 under agreements that allow local police to work with federal immigration authorities. Data shows that many of those detained had no criminal record or were charged with non-violent offences.
Why does Florida want to expand migrant detention centers?
Florida says existing facilities are too far apart and overcrowded, and the state believes expanding detention capacity will help speed up immigration enforcement and deportations.