OCHOPEE, FLA. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday that the immigration detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz" will be dismantled once the Department of Homeland Security secures alternative housing for detainees. Speaking at a news conference in Lakeland, DeSantis said the facility was always intended to be a temporary operation.

"At some point, we will, of course, break it down. That was always the goal," DeSantis said at the news conference in Lakeland.

The facility, located in Ochopee, has processed and deported 22,000 detainees since it opened last summer. DeSantis said it will wind down if DHS feels it has the resources to house detainees elsewhere.

DHS officials have not said they want the facility to close, and the agency denied Thursday that it was urging Florida to cease operations there. "Florida continues to be a valuable partner in advancing President Trump's immigration agenda, and DHS appreciates their support," the agency said. It added that "DHS continuously evaluates detention needs and requirements to ensure they meet the latest operational requirements."

The idea of closing the facility has been discussed since DHS got a new secretary in late March, when Markwayne Mullin took over the agency. Florida has spent more than $1 million a day to run the facility, and DeSantis said he expects reimbursement from the federal government. The state has not yet received $608 million it has requested.

Detainees at the facility have described poor physical conditions and difficulty accessing lawyers. According to a handbook made public as part of a lawsuit over access to attorneys, detainees are segregated based on criminal history and whether they are considered a flight risk. The handbook says that during regular head counts, detainees are not allowed to move or talk, and that if they do, everyone in their dorm can be locked in their housing unit.