Florida Division of Emergency Management

Florida's emergency managers spent more than $405 million in taxpayer dollars in six months to fight illegal immigration, but that doesn't just include law enforcement, state spending records show: It covers private jet flights, restaurant meals, and badges.

The news comes less than a week after a federal judge ordered the detention center to wind down operations — with the last detainee needing to be out within 60 days.

A lawsuit alleges state and federal agencies are violating the National Environmental Policy Act by building the facility in the wetlands of Big Cypress National Preserve.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has said the state is waiting for federal officials to ramp up deportations from the Everglades facility before building out the second site outside of Jacksonville.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is directing the state to build an immigrant detention center on so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" — a partially-built airstrip in the Everglades.

When Miramar-based Trinity Health Care Services accepted the inflated payments, its CEO was U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who has been the subject of an unrelated House ethics complaint.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management is prepared to deploy an incident management team, logistics support personnel and equipment to the west coast, according to a statement on X.

Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said Debby's effects will be "far-reaching" and "long-lasting."

During a Sunday briefing, DeSantis said the storm will have “significant impacts across the state.”

The News Service of Florida has 5 Questions for Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

The state Division of Emergency Management said a plane carrying 14 people landed Wednesday evening at Orlando Sanford International Airport.

State Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie credited lessons from hurricanes Irma in 2017, Michael in 2018 and Ian and Nicole in 2022 for helping speed the recovery after Idalia.