Florida is preparing to build yet another detention facility for immigrants. It has already awarded a contract for a so-called ‘North Detention Facility,’ according to the Florida contract database. The site of the development will be next to the Florida Guard training center, about 27 miles (43 kilometers) from Jacksonville. While there is no fixed date yet for the start of construction, officials are waiting for an increase in deportations before beginning work on the site.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been a key ally of President Donald Trump’s migrant deportation plans. The planned facility will be Florida’s second, after the notorious ‘South Detention Facility,’ also known as ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ officially opened on July 1.
The first facility, which at the end of July was holding more than 1,000 people—with plans to expand to 4,000—has sparked criticism due to the living conditions of the people held there, many of whom have no criminal record. According to witnesses, people are forced into inhumane conditions, with no flushing toilets, worms in the food, and extreme heat. Trump deemed it fit for “the worst of the worst.”
Since the beginning of his term, the current president has taken an extremely strict line on immigration, which remains a deeply divisive issue in the US. But how much do you know about the history of immigration?
In this gallery, we take you through a timeline of key events in US immigration history, all the way up to Trump’s new strategy. Click on and get to know more.