Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who first suggested building the $450 million-per-year facility at a small airport in the middle of the Everglades, garnered praise from conservative leaders around the country for the project.

The announcement came as Florida officials opened the state's controversial immigration detention facility in the Everglades.

Uthmeier is running in 2026 to keep the job he was appointed to and have some wondering whether he'd face a challenge from other Florida Republicans.