JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mayor Donna Deegan’s office issued a statement saying she has concerns about the immigration bill that was passed on Tuesday night.
Community members packed Jacksonville City Hall Tuesday night to voice opposition to a proposed immigration policy that would require the disclosure of undocumented immigrants living in city-controlled public housing.
The controversial legislation, which would prohibit city funds for services to people living in the country illegally, passed with an 11-7 vote.
It drew extensive public comment, with most speakers opposing the measure.
RELATED: Jacksonville bill would prohibit use of city funds for services to undocumented immigrants
“This bill helps no one, and it would do harm to the Jacksonville community,” Tim Burbins said.
Several amendments were added to the bill during the lengthy session, including exemptions for victims of domestic violence and pregnant women. The council had to take a 20-minute recess to process the final amendments.
Councilman Rory Diamond went to his personal Facebook page about the bill.
“The Council PASSED my bill 202-138 that stops funding for illegal aliens in Jacksonville. Tonight we stood for the rule of law. Tonight we said we aren’t Los Angeles. Tonight we said with conviction that Jacksonville will never be a sanctuary city.”
However, Councilman Rahman Johnson strongly opposed the measure.
“This bill was flawed at inception, and there is no way this makes any sense. And so we are sitting here debating, as Councilman Dr. Salem said, we’re sitting here debating something that is based on flawed premise,” he said. “So everything we talk about is fruit of the poison tree.”
Protesters gathered outside City Hall before and after the meeting, calling for the council to focus instead on affordable housing and infrastructure improvements.
“Nothing about this bill improves the lives of Jacksonville residents, are you lying in bed at night thinking about, ‘Hmmm, I wish children will be barred from meals or after-school programs, which is what this bill does by denying children services impacted by city grants,” Simone Young, a resident said.
Alejandro Franzuela expressed his frustration as well.
“It’s a waste of time and money, there are broken roads, pipes and roads to be fixed and you want to be focused on this?,” he said.
Demonstrators also demanded the dropping of charges against pro-Palestine and immigrant rights activists and an end to what they described as the city’s use of repression to silence public dissent.
Multiple council members expressed that no amount of amendments could address the fundamental issues with the bill’s intent.
The funding moratorium does not apply to:
- Domestic violence, human trafficking or sex trafficking victims
- Service members or health services at UF Health
- All pregnant women at every hospital
- Funds designated for infectious diseases
Mayor Donna Deegan’s Office issued a short statement regarding her thoughts on the immigration bill writing, “Mayor Deegan has concerns about the bill. She will be reviewing it and weighing all her options.”
Immigration attorney Rebecca Black opposes the bill as well. She said it diverts resources from real crime.
“I think it’s duplicative of legislation that’s already in play by the state of Florida, I think it’s just a lot of political grandstanding where people just want to stand there and be able to say, yes, we’re strong with the president against immigration. But the reality is, a lot of it is stuff that the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has already been able to do,” Black said.
