The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced that it will allocate $608 million to states to aid in the construction of temporary migrant detention centres, as part of the Trump administration’s push to increase the capacity for holding migrants.
This initiative is designed to alleviate pressure on overcrowded federal border facilities by encouraging states to develop their own detention infrastructure.
FEMA has introduced the “detention support grant programme,” which invites states to apply for funding to cover the costs associated with setting up these facilities. Applications must be submitted by August 8, as indicated in the agency’s official release.
The programme is intended to provide financial assistance to states looking to expand their ability to detain migrants, reflecting the administration’s strategy of decentralising migrant housing.
The distribution of the funds will be managed jointly by FEMA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis, a prominent Republican, confirmed the state’s plan to request FEMA reimbursements to cover expenses for its new migrant detention centre, commonly known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) representatives have estimated that operating this facility will cost around $450 million annually. The centre is expected to house hundreds of migrants and help ease the burden on existing border detention sites.
Furthermore, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stated that DHS intends to draw from FEMA’s existing $650 million shelter and services fund to support Florida’s detention operations. This fund, authorised during the Biden administration, is allocated by Congress to enable DHS to distribute resources to state and local governments and non-profit organisations for migrant sheltering expenses. It is important to note that this fund is separate from Congress’s appropriations to FEMA for disaster relief.
When queried by Reuters about whether Florida would specifically receive funding from the new detention grant programme, FEMA declined to comment.