Trump Backs Florida’s Plan to Use National Guard as Immigration Judges
Trump Backs Florida’s Plan to Use National Guard as Immigration Judges
TALLAHASSEE — Former President Donald Trump yesterday, July 1, 2025, gave his full approval to Florida’s ambitious plan to deploy qualified National Guard members as immigration judges. This controversial initiative, championed by Governor Ron DeSantis, aims to significantly fast-track deportations from a new state-run immigration detention center in South Florida, dubbed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’.
During a visit to the facility in the Everglades, Trump publicly endorsed DeSantis’s long-standing request to deputize Florida National Guard Judge Advocate General Corps officers for this judicial role. “He didn’t even have to ask me. He has my approval,” Trump stated during a roundtable discussion.
Governor DeSantis emphasized that the strategy is designed to bypass traditional bureaucratic delays. Unlike federal judges who operate independently, immigration judges fall under the purview of the U.S. Attorney General, a distinction Florida intends to leverage. State Attorney General James Uthmeier, instrumental in the center’s development, celebrated the facility on social media yesterday, calling it a “one stop shop for immigration enforcement” where individuals can “come in, get your ‘process,’ and fly out.”
The detention center’s location on an old airstrip is also intended to expedite deportations by allowing direct flights for migrants from the site. Florida’s proposed plan outlines training for nine National Guard JAG officers over six weeks. While a National Guard spokesperson confirmed they are “standing by to provide support,” formal instructions to begin training are still awaited.
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