State Mistakenly Releases, Recovers Two Detainees From Deportation Depot
Officials said an administrative error led to the release, and both detainees were quickly found and returned to custody.
- The Florida Division of Emergency Management confirmed an administrative error resulted in two detainees being mistakenly released from the Deportation Depot over the weekend; spokeswoman Stephanie Hartman said both individuals were quickly located and returned to custody.
- Located in the former Baker Correctional Institute in Sanderson, the Deportation Depot operates under FDEM and currently houses about 1,000 detainees, separate from the ICE-run Baker County Detention Center.
- Florida maintains a maximum $101 million contract with GEO|CDR BAKER, formed in August 2025 by executives from CDR Health Care and The GEO Group, and has paid approximately $32 million as of Sept. 22.
- Officials have not released the detainees' names or confirmed whether they possessed criminal records; Hartman stated the agency is reviewing the incident to ensure accountability and prevent similar administrative errors.
- FDEM, operating under Gov. Ron DeSantis' executive office, manages both immigration detention and hurricane response; the agency reported a potential $1.5 billion deficit in the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund despite $500 million from the Legislature.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Administrative glitch briefly frees two immigration detainees at Florida’s Deportation Depot
Officials have confirmed that two detainees held at Deportation Depot in Baker County were mistakenly released over the weekend before being located and returned to custody.
Florida mistakenly releases two detainees from deportation facility
Florida accidentally released two detainees from a state facility, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The two detainees at the Deportation Depot in Sanderson were mistakenly released over the weekend. They were later returned to the detention facility after what officials described as an administrative error that resulted in the pair being released on bond, according to […]
Florida mistakenly releases, recovers 2 people from Deportation Depot immigrant detention center
Two detainees held at Deportation Depot in North Florida were released by mistake over the weekend and later apprehended and returned to the detention facility, officials have confirmed.
First Coast
News Service of FloridaState mistakenly releases, recovers two detainees from deportation depot
In a statement to the News Service of Florida, the Florida Division of Emergency Management said an administrative error resulted in two detainees being bonded out.
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