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Advocates in Northeast Florida are protesting Gov. DeSantis’s plan to turn Camp Blanding into an immigration detention center.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Tensions are rising across Northeast Florida as community members and advocates push back against Gov. Ron DeSantis’s plan to turn Camp Blanding into an immigration detention center.
On Friday, the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance rallied outside the federal courthouse downtown, joined by dozens of supporters who called the proposal inhumane and warned it could repeat the mistakes of the past.
Among the protesters was Clay County’s Rev. Madison Hilt, who grew up minutes from Camp Blanding.
“As a pastor, that hurts my heart and I can’t do anything but stand here and resist what’s happening,” Hilt said.
Hilt pointed to the site’s history, recalling how during World War II it was used to detain thousands of naturalized U.S. citizens under suspicion of being wartime enemies.
“I really thought that Camp Blanding was starting to shut off the misdeeds of entering American citizens, and it turns out that it hasn’t. I really hate to see it,” Hilt said.
The rally comes as state Rep. Angie Nixon and four other lawmakers filed a lawsuit this week after being denied entry July 3 to inspect another detention facility near the Everglades, known as Alligator Alcatraz.
“At the end of the day, accountability and transparency should not be scheduled,” Nixon said. “We need to make sure that those folks are treated humanely inside of that detention center.”
DeSantis’ office dismissed the lawsuit as “frivolous and dumb,” saying lawmakers have been invited to tour the site this weekend. That’s happening Saturday, July 11.
State officials insist the new facility is necessary for public safety and that detainees’ rights will be protected. Nixon said she will continue to push for oversight.
Rally organizer Maria Garcia said the fight is about more than policy.
“I think the country is stronger when we are united,” Garcia said. “I think building more detention centers just puts us all at risk.”
A major rally is planned for July 19 at Camp Blanding, where organizers say they will continue to demand transparency, rain or shine.
