ICE detention center back with no alternatives @ Bradford County BOCC 2026-04-16

Update 2026-04-16: Lease and operating requirements added to Sheriff’s ICE detention agenda item @ Bradford County BOCC 2026-04-16.

Despite two other options for use of the Douglas Building being discussed last time, only the ICE detention center is on the agenda for the Bradford County Commission tomorrow, 6:30 PM, Thursday, April 16, 2026. That’s at the Bradford County Courthouse, 945 North Temple Avenue, Starke, Florida 32091.

The board packet does not include the text of the proposed lease, nor any comment on it by the county attorney.

There’s also nothing on the agenda about any results of the FDEP contamination study they approved last time, March 7, 2026. That would have to take much longer than nine days, anyway.

According to Sheriff Gordon Smith‘s agenda item detail, such a detention center “would be capable of housing up to 3,000 detainees.” Remember the population of Starke is about 6,000. So that’s a 50% increase, plus ICE and other personnel.

As we pointed out last time, Starke has already had sewage spills, and increasing its population like that would risk more spills, on a site that sits between two creeks that go through Lakes Rowell and Sampson into the Sampson River to the Santa Fe and Suwannee Rivers.

Bradford County should choose one of its other options for the site.

And the county should do nothing with the site until FDEP returns results of its contamination examination.

ICE detention center back, with no alternatives, Sheriff wants a lease @ Bradford County BOCC 2026-04-16

On page 1 of the agenda:

Sheriff Reports — Gordon Smith, Sheriff

Lease for “Douglas” Property for the purpose of a Temporary ICE Detainment Facility.

Agenda: 5. Sheriff Reports — Gordon Smith, Sheriff A. Lease for “Douglas” Property for the purpose of a Temporary ICE Detainment Facility.
PDF

On page 17 is a bit more detail, but it does not include text of the proposed lease, nor anything about it by the county attorney.

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BRADFORD COUNTY, FLORIDA
AGENDA ITEM INFORMATION SHEET
DATE: April 16, 2026
AGENDA ITEM Lease for “Douglas” Property for the Purpose of a Temporary ICE Detainment Facility
DEPARTMENT: BCSO
PURPOSE: BCSO Lease would provide the opportunity to move forward with negotiations with the federal government for a temporary ICE detainment facility. The facility would be capable of housing up to 3,000 detainees. The intention is for the site to be temporary housing for those detained during deportation processing by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This proposal is revenue-neutral to Bradford County but would offer property and building improvements that would be retained by the County upon the closure of the facility.

Page 17: AGENDA ITEM Lease for “Douglas” Property for the Purpose of a Temporary ICE Detainment Facility
PDF

There are more images below.

-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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Bradford County Commission, 2026-04-07 –jsq for WWALS