Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier has initiated an investigation into the City of Jacksonville's administration, led by Mayor Donna Deegan, by issuing a criminal subpoena. This inquiry follows allegations of interference with federal immigration enforcement, notably in relation to a contentious Instagram livestream by Yanira Cardona, the city's Hispanic Outreach Coordinator.
The investigation, announced on Monday, seeks to determine if there was a coordinated effort among city officials to obstruct the activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "If there's evidence that the administration worked to obstruct federal enforcement or harbor criminal aliens, we will hold them accountable," Uthmeier stated in a press release.
At the core of the controversy is a livestream posted by Cardona from her city office in mid-January, where she branded ongoing ICE operations in Jacksonville as harassment. She advised residents to prepare legal documents, assign power of attorney, and exercise caution if approached by federal agents. This act of public notification about ICE activities has drawn criticism from state officials, who assert that it undermines law enforcement efforts.
Florida law mandates local cooperation with federal immigration initiatives. During a press conference, Uthmeier emphasized this legal requirement and condemned any actions by local officials that could be seen as impeding it. "We have a situation where a city official was publicly alerting people to ICE operations, interfering with enforcement efforts. This is the state of Florida. Local authorities do not have discretion to undermine federal law," Uthmeier explained.
In response to the allegations, Mayor Deegan's administration has denied any impropriety, stating that the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is chiefly responsible for liaising with federal immigration agencies, and that the mayor's office does not directly oversee these operations. Despite this, the subpoena demands all communications between Cardona and city officials from January 2 to January 16, including emails, phone logs, and official devices, with a deadline for response set for February 20.
Cardona has been placed on administrative leave subsequent to the livestream, with local Republican groups and state officials calling for accountability given the taxpayer-funded resources used to produce the video during work hours. The mayor's office has declared full cooperation with the subpoena while maintaining the administration's stance on public safety, legal compliance, and transparency.
The case highlights the escalating tensions between state authorities and municipal administrations over immigration enforcement. It signals a potentially precedent-setting investigation into how local governments navigate the balance between city governance and state oversight, particularly in states with rigorous cooperation laws.
Observers and citizens alike are expected to follow the case closely, monitoring how accountability is enforced and whether municipal compliance will align with state law enforcement priorities.
