BAKER COUNTY, Fla. – Jacksonville organizations on Saturday traveled to the Baker County immigration center to protest.
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The Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance and other organizations started their protest in Life Ev’re Voice and Sing Park. A handful of speakers talked about wanting to get rid of the immigration detention centers in the state.
Vanessa Cullins Hopkins was among the protesters. It was her first time at one and she said she had to support the cause.
“We want to protect our brothers and sisters who need compassion, dignity, and respect,” Cullins-Hopkins said.
The facility in Sanderson, nicknamed “Deportation Depot” by Governor Ron DeSantis, began ICE operations earlier this month.
After that protest, people got in their cars and drove for over 40 minutes to further protests in front of the Baker County facility.
They did this by honking their horns and organizers hope it sends a strong message.
“Our hopes and our intentions is to stop people from being incarcerated and then from further detention centers...to pop up out of nowhere,” Vanessa Alvarez with Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance said.
One protester said the feeling of unity was unmatched.
“It was obviously a very consolidating moment for me seeing so many people that are equally worried about our immigrant brothers and sisters being deported,” Stone Sevieux said.
And this fight is one that protesters said they’ll continue until the facilities get shut down.
News4JAX did reach out to ICE to ask how many detainees are currently at the facility and this is the response.
The Department of Homeland Security announced a new partnership with the state of Florida to expand ICE detention space by up to 2,000 beds. These beds will be available at the Baker Correctional. This facility dubbed “Deportation Depot” may house some of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens arrested. If you are in America illegally, you could find yourself in CECOT, Cornhusker Clink, Speedway Slammer, Alligator Alcatraz, Deportation Deport, or Louisiana Lockup. Avoid arrest and self deport now using the CBP Home App.
ICE Spokesperson