Threeprospective governors advocate for the creation of a unique South Carolina "Gator Prison Island"
South Carolina Proposes "Palmetto Pen" Detention Center for Undocumented Immigrants
South Carolina is considering the creation of a detention center for undocumented immigrants who have committed violent crimes in the state, known as the "Palmetto Pen." The proposal, primarily advocated by Republican Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette as part of her 2026 gubernatorial campaign, aims to repurpose former correctional facilities in the state to minimize costs to taxpayers.
Evette's plan emphasizes using existing state assets, particularly former correctional facilities, to avoid imposing additional costs on South Carolina taxpayers. The proposal suggests leveraging these unused facilities instead of building a center entirely from scratch, indicating an intent to minimize new state expenditures. However, specific details about the exact funding mechanisms or external funding sources have not been publicly detailed in the available information.
Other political figures like U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace have also expressed support for similar facilities modeled after Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center. Mace, like Evette, believes that existing facilities should be used before building a new structure.
While Evette is pushing this proposal actively, Governor Henry McMaster has instructed state officials to explore options for such a center, though his office has not publicly endorsed the Palmetto Pen specifically. The creation of a detention center for immigrants has faced criticism from groups such as the ACLU of South Carolina, which launched a petition against it due to concerns about conditions and legal rights.
In the five-person race for the GOP nomination for governor, fighting against illegal immigration has been a key issue among the hopefuls. U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman has been lauded by President Donald Trump and members of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for their work on the border, and Norman has expressed support for a detention center for immigrants in South Carolina.
Evette's campaign plans to apply for the money available through FEMA's detention support grant program for a potential facility. The campaign also considers using federal facilities near military bases as potential locations for a facility.
In the past, the SC Department of Corrections has closed several prerelease facilities, selling the property or reverting it back to the county or city that owns it. Some smaller facilities on the department's Columbia complex have been converted into office space.
South Carolina has sent the National Guard to assist immigration enforcement, and the state has participated in the 287(g) program, which allows state and local law enforcement agencies to perform the functions of federal immigration officers in identifying and detaining immigrants who are in the country illegally.
[1] Palmetto Pen Detention Center Proposal
[2] Evette's Op-Ed on Palmetto Pen Detention Center
[3] FEMA Detention Support Grant Program
- The proposal to establish the Palmetto Pen Detention Center for undocumented immigrants, as part of Pamela Evette's 2026 gubernatorial campaign, falls under the realm of policy-and-legislation, specifically in the sphere of politics and general news.
- Evette's campaign has indicated an intention to apply for funds through the FEMA Detention Support Grant Program to aid in the potential building of the Palmetto Pen Detention Center, further highlighting its connection to politics and policy-and-legislation.
