Council leaders urge mayor to sign Jacksonville Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act

Jacksonville City Council Vice President Kevin Carico urged Mayor Donna Deagan to sign Ordinance 2025-0147, the Jacksonville Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act, at a press conference where council leaders said the measure will give the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office more tools to enforce immigration-related laws. The council passed the ordinance eight days before the briefing, Carico said.

Carico, who represents District 4, said the ordinance is a response to "the growing trend of violent crimes committed by illegals" and urged the mayor to "sign this legislation into law." He said the measure creates local penalties and will allow law enforcement to use tools such as fingerprint scanners to identify people who have previously committed crimes.

The ordinance drew public backing from several council leaders in the brief remarks that followed. "This bill was not filed to hurt people," Past President Freeman said, adding that the legislation is intended to ensure government fulfills its "top priority" of keeping citizens safe. Ron Salem, identified in remarks as a past council president, said his family’s immigration history led him to support stricter entry rules and to "support Sheriff Waters in enforcing this bill."

Carico said the ordinance has backing from state and national conservative officials and groups. He read portions of a letter from State Representative Kyan Michael that he said commended the council’s leadership and urged local enforcement to address undocumented individuals in Duval County. Carico also said the measure has support from Sheriff D K Waters, the Republican Party of Florida, and the Fraternal Order of Police.

Speakers at the press conference denounced opposition messaging. Carico and others argued that claims circulating in recent weeks — including alleged "ICE sweeps at elementary schools," racial profiling by officers and family separations — are false. "None of this is happening. None of this is going to happen," Carico said, characterizing such claims as "fear mongering." Past remarks by the mayor on immigration, quoted by a speaker at the event, were cited as part of the political backdrop to the debate.

Council members present said that if the mayor vetoes the ordinance, the council could attempt to override that veto. Specific details of the council vote that passed Ordinance 2025-0147 — including the motion text, mover and seconder and the vote tally — were not specified at the press conference.

Supporters framed the ordinance as aligning with state actions and federal priorities cited by speakers. Opponents were not present to speak at the press conference; council speakers characterized local opposition as "radical leftist" groups spreading misinformation. The briefing focused on urging the mayor to sign the ordinance and on public appeals rather than on further procedural steps.

The council leaders did not provide a date for when the ordinance would take effect if signed, nor did they provide full text excerpts beyond general descriptions of local penalties and tools for law enforcement. The press conference concluded after council leaders took questions from the media and reiterated their call for the mayor to act.