Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wasted no time pushing back after U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, an Obama appointee, ordered a halt to the expansion of the detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz.” The 82-page ruling claimed environmental concerns justified stopping the facility from bringing in new detainees, while also demanding removal of generators, sewage, and other infrastructure within 60 days once the population declined.

The Biden-era talking point about protecting the environment didn’t sit well with Florida or the Trump administration. Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin blasted the ruling as “another attempt to prevent the President from fulfilling the American people’s mandate,” stressing that the land had already been developed for years and that Alligator Alcatraz was housing “the worst of the worst,” from violent criminals to gang members and terrorists.

DeSantis echoed that defiance. Calling Williams an “activist judge” whose decision was “pre-ordained,” the governor vowed Florida would not be deterred. “We’re totally in the right on this. Because of the success of Alligator Alcatraz, there’s demand for more,” he declared.

He then revealed a major next step: a brand-new detention facility just outside Jacksonville. “We call that the Deportation Depot,” he said, signaling that Florida is preparing for expansion regardless of what happens with the appeal.

The move highlights how Florida’s crackdown on illegal immigration is gaining momentum. Other states, including South Dakota under DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, have already expressed interest in replicating Florida-style detention centers. With operations in the Panhandle and plans for new facilities, DeSantis and Trump’s team are making it clear that deportations aren’t slowing down anytime soon.

While the legal battle over Alligator Alcatraz 1.0 plays out in the courts, its success is already spawning copycats. DeSantis’s message is unmistakable: activist judges may try to slow enforcement, but Florida is prepared to keep building and keep deporting.

For those hoping to see a rollback of Trump’s immigration crackdown, the message out of Tallahassee was blunt. “We’re not going to be deterred,” DeSantis said. And with the Deportation Depot on deck, it looks like Florida’s tough stance on illegal immigration is only just getting started.