Tropic Air Rescue’s Role at the Deportation Depot

A South Florida air-charter company, Tropic Air Rescue, is currently operating ambulances at the ICE detention facility in Sanderson, Florida. This facility is known as the Deportation Depot. State records indicate that the company’s owner, Anthony Marinello, obtained a Florida ground ambulance license on September 3, 2026. This was just one day before the facility began accepting detainees.

The company’s involvement in urgent transport is noted in its license and a subcontracting agreement. However, these records do not specify which vehicle handled any particular emergency. The facility appears to be relying on Tropic Air Rescue rather than Baker County Fire and Rescue for much of its emergency assistance. Detainees have reported frequent sightings of ambulances at the facility, according to calls recorded by an advocate and translated from Spanish. Marinello stated that acquiring the vehicles and license was a direct response to a contract.

Marinello’s Connection to Ambulance Services

Marinello explained the situation by saying, “It’s called a contract. We had no reason to have it until we had a reason to have it. That’s what it’s all about. They give you a reason: We want that to happen. So, okay. This is how we make it happen. We get the ambulances, we get the license, and we’re able to proceed with it.”

The contract was not a direct agreement between the state and Marinello’s company. Instead, in 2025, emergency management contractor Robbie Meek subcontracted Marinello. This was part of a larger $40 million agreement between IRG Global Emergency Management and Florida, focused on transporting detainees. Marinello has not disclosed how much he earns from his ambulance services or deportation flights.

Florida law requires companies holding a ground-ambulance license to meet specific equipment and staffing standards. This includes having a designated medical director. State records show Donald Locasto as the company’s lead doctor. Locasto is a former fire department medical director and currently teaches in Cincinnati.

Additional Baker County records list personal insurance cards for three vehicles belonging to Access Restoration Services. This company is also associated with Meek. However, these records do not clarify who owns the entire fleet of ambulances.

Ambulance Sightings and Medical Care Concerns

The accounts from detainees describe seeing ambulances, but they do not provide medical records or details about individual patients. Locasto mentioned that he splits his time between Ohio and South Florida and expressed no concerns regarding the care provided to detainees. The mere presence of ambulances does not confirm whether a detainee received prompt treatment or the nature of the medical issue that led to a transport. These sightings also do not address broader questions about the quality of medical care within immigration detention centers.

Political Contributions and Scrutiny

In October 2026, Tropic Air Rescue made a significant contribution to a political action committee linked to Governor-elect Byron Donalds. Marinello maintains that this donation was unrelated to the detention center contract. State records indicate no prior political donations from the company before its subcontracting arrangement began.

In September 2026, David Jolly, the Democratic candidate running against Donalds, requested an investigation following a critical report from an inspector general. The specific views of Donalds on the ambulance arrangement remain unknown. The political contribution does not provide evidence that it influenced the subcontracting agreement.

Florida’s contract tracking system shows that IRG has received approximately $38 million for its services at the Sanderson facility. A substantial portion, nearly $7 million, was paid on November 3, which was Election Day.

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