JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A social media post made on Thursday sparked questions about police enforcement of local and state immigration laws in the city.
Incoming City Council President Kevin Carrico wrote a post on X saying that the Office of General Counsel directed the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office not to enforce state and local immigration laws.
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Read Carrico’s social media post below:
As to General Council Fackler directing JSO not to enforce the State and Local Illegal immigration laws, This directive not only ties the hands of our local law enforcement, but it undermines the will of the Council and State Legislature. Florida is leading the fight for law and…
— Kevin Carrico (@CMKevinCarrico) May 29, 2025
The mayor’s office shared with News4JAX an email thread that shows the language that was used to advise JSO not to enforce the local and state laws.
The email from General Counsel Michael Fackler reads in part:
“The Office of General Counsel advises JSO to not enforce Chapter 605, Jacksonville Municipal Code, while the federal court’s injunction of Fla. Stat. SS 811.102-103 is in place. A copy of the federal injunction is attached.”
That same email goes on to say that the OGC also advises JSO not to enforce the state immigration law “as doing so would violate the federal court’s injunction.” It also says JSO should cooperate with the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
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In a statement, the mayor’s office said it was “simply legal advice” as it does not have authority over JSO because they are separate entities. The statement also says:
“The Office of General Counsel represents the entire Consolidated Government and has repeatedly raised concerns that the local ordinance is redundant to the state law that is now blocked by a federal court. This is simply legal guidance offered by the General Counsel to another independent entity to avoid lawsuits being filed against the city.”
News4JAX reached out to JSO and confirmed it received that advice from the OGC. JSO also said it “will continue to enforce federal, state and local laws.”
In early April, Mayor Donna Deegan announced she would not sign the Jacksonville Illegal Immigration Act that was passed by city council. However, that bill still became law without her signature.
“Allowing it to become law without my signature does not impede law enforcement nor prevent them from doing their job in any way. It does keep my name from being attached to something that creates a sense of fear in immigrants living here lawfully,” Deegan said in April.