Florida gubernatorial candidate David Jolly is calling for a federal investigation into the state-run immigration detention facility in north Florida known as "Deportation Depot." The request follows a Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General report which found that the DeSantis administration failed to ensure humane standards at the now-shuttered Everglades detention center, colloquially dubbed Alligator Alcatraz. Jolly argued during an event in Miami on September 19, 2026, that similar conditions likely exist at the still-operating Baker Correctional Institution.
Findings from Federal Watchdog Report
The federal watchdog report detailed significant violations of state and federal standards at the Everglades facility. According to the findings, detainees were sometimes confined in small metal cages and lacked adequate living space as well as access to water. The Department of Homeland Security noted that Deportation Depot has not been internally inspected by ICE’s Office of Detention Oversight nor was it scheduled for inspection in fiscal years 2026 or 2027, more details at Orlando Ledger.
Furthermore, the report stated that ICE documentation lists contractually obligated standards for Baker as "N/A." Jolly told reporters at the Miami-Dade Democratic Party's Blue Gala that these findings raise alarms about current operations. He called on U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, his Republican opponent from Naples, to join in demanding an investigation into the facility, as we reported in Florida Immigration Detention Report Raises Humane Standards Concerns.
Conditions and Contract Details
The Baker County Correctional Institution in Sanderson was announced by the DeSantis administration last fall. It has been converted into a state-run detention facility using existing prison infrastructure, differing from the tent-based setup of Alligator Alcatraz. As of August 27, the report indicated that Deportation Depot housed approximately 1,028 detainees, a story we covered in Florida Immigration Detention Report Raises Humane Standards Concerns.
While receiving less public attention than its predecessor, detainees at Baker County have shared complaints regarding harsh conditions and inadequate medical care. The Associated Press reported in January that detainees had been pepper-sprayed on at least two occasions. The DeSantis administration has committed more than $1.4 billion in no-bid contracts with private contractors to support federal deportation mandates, including approximately $230 million specifically for operating Deportation Depot.
