DeSantis Is Using Florida’s New Immigration Detention Center to Win Favor With Trump

Florida’s governor got the president to sign off on his long-standing push to take control of federal Everglades restoration dollars last week.

Ron DeSantis
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis John Raoux/AP

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is back in President Donald Trump’s good graces and using the moment to get more federal money to the state.

For months, DeSantis has been pushing a plan to get federal Everglades restoration money in the form of a block grant, but his vision got its biggest boost yet last week. As he toured the state’s new immigration detention center in the Everglades with Trump — what they’re calling “Alligator Alcatraz” — DeSantis laid out his pitch to take over the federal dollars.

“We move faster than the Army Corps, so we will finish that reservoir. If you delegate it to us, I’ll get it done much quicker,” DeSantis said.