MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — An ICE spokesperson confirmed to Local 10 News on Tuesday that detainees are being evacuated from the Krome Detention Center as nearby brush fires continue burning in west Miami-Dade County.
The spokesperson stated that the agency began evacuating the facility over the weekend “out of an abundance of caution” because of brush fires burning around detention center, located at 18201 SW 12th St. in west Miami-Dade.
“ICE takes the health and safety of those in our custody as our top priority,” an ICE spokesman said in a statement. “Over the weekend, out of an abundance of caution, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement started evacuating the Krome Service Processing Center due to brush fires burning around the detention center.”
The agency said detainees have been transferred to other ICE facilities both within Florida and outside the state.
They also stated that their officers are trained for emergencies such as wildfires and that the evacuation has been carried out in an orderly manner with no reported incidents.
“ICE will continue to work with the Florida Forest Service to closely monitor any situation as it may arise,” the statement continued.
The evacuation comes as an air quality alert remains in effect for Miami-Dade County through 3 p.m. Tuesday due to smoke from two brush fires that ignited last week.
A southeast wind has pushed much of the smoke and haze farther inland, improving air quality in much of Broward County. However, conditions remain a concern in parts of Miami-Dade.
The larger of the two fires, dubbed “Quarry 2” and located east of Krome Avenue, has burned 19,018 acres and is 97% contained. The Well Fire, near Northwest 122nd Avenue, has burned 2,809 acres and is 85% contained, as of Tuesday morning.
The evacuation has raised questions because three facilities are located in close proximity to one another in the area:
- Everglades Correctional Institution, a state-run prison that was not evacuated
- Krome Detention Center, the ICE detention facility that was evacuated
- A former juvenile justice facility that is currently abandoned
Local 10 News has reached out to state officials for clarification on why Everglades Correctional Institution remained operational while the Krome Detention Center was evacuated, but has not yet received a response.
Miami-Dade residents and visitors can track the latest wildfire conditions and containment updates through the Florida Forest Service’s public wildfire viewer by clicking here.
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