JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan vetoed a bill on Tuesday that aims to block city funds from being used to support undocumented immigrants.
Deegan had until Tuesday to decide if she would sign or veto Ordinance 025-0138, which would track how city, state and federal grants are used for DEI, and services that support immigrants living in the country illegally.
“This bill is not rooted in the common good. It is political theater disguised as fiscal oversight. Most importantly, this bill puts our city’s legal standing, public safety, public health and economy in jeopardy,” Deegan said.
Watch Deegan’s remarks about the bill’s veto in the video above
Meanwhile, the city council was preparing to override the veto, according to Tuesday night’s meeting agenda.
The override failed with an 8-7 vote. It needed 10 votes to succeed.
On June 10, the Jacksonville City Council passed the controversial measure in an 11–7 vote.
Councilman Rory Diamond, who introduced the bill, had been posting a countdown daily on social media to apply pressure on Deegan as the deadline approached.
Diamond released the following statement following Deegan’s veto:
“By vetoing a bill I authored, as well as the members of city council who voted in favor with overwhelming support, to stop the use of taxpayer dollars from being spent on illegal aliens, Mayor Donna Deagan is making Jacksonville a sanctuary city under our noses. She has clearly made the choice to support law breakers over hard working Jacksonvillians, and prioritize illegals and criminals who put our city at risk over the great silent majority of Jacksonville. We absolutely will not give up the fight, I will put this same bill in this year’s budget. No matter how much Donna and the liberals try, we will not let our community fall and become another Los Angeles,” said Diamond.
On the other hand, Councilman Jimmy Peluso celebrated Deegan’s decision to veto the bill.
“Today our City stood up to the fear mongering and bully tactics popular in national media. So now, let us finally turn the page on these highly unnecessary bills. This legislation doesn’t protect taxpayers or hold bad actors accountable; it just hurts people and spreads fear. Let’s get back to doing the good work Jacksonville is asking for us to do: housing affordability, homelessness, economic development, and establishing a neighborhood Bill of Rights,” Peluso wrote in part.
In a memo sent to City Council President Randy White, Deegan listed four reasons for the veto:
- The bill is duplicative of existing state and federal laws and requirements
- The bill lacks a defined scope and fails to quantify the problem it seeks to address
- The bill introduces legal exposure for the City and for non-profit and healthcare partners
- The City is already taking steps to ensure accountability and compliance
According to Deegan, nearly 120,000 Jacksonville residents are foreign-born, and most of them are naturalized citizens.
“This bill, in the guise of targeting undocumented immigrants, soaks fear and casts a shadow of suspicion over all immigrants,” Deegan said.
If the veto is overridden, the bill would require Mayor Donna Deegan to submit a report to the Finance Committee on or before June 30, including:
- A list and description of all federal grants to the city
- Confirmation that the City of Jacksonville is in compliance with all applicable federal and state anti-discrimination laws
- A list and explanation of any employment practices or other city policies related to the application of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- The number of people living in the country illegally, if any, living in public housing under the jurisdiction and control of the City or any of its independent agencies.
In a statement, Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power said Deegan “showed her true colors to the people of Jacksonville,” and that her veto sends the message that “Jacksonville is open for illegal immigration.”
Read Power’s full statement below:
“Donna Deegan has once again shown her true colors to the people of Jacksonville: she’d rather stand with criminal migrants than legal, hardworking taxpayers. Here in Florida, we won’t tolerate municipalities harboring illegal immigrants and providing a safe haven to those that flout our laws. By vetoing this bill, she is signaling to the entire country that Jacksonville is open for illegal immigration and that local tax dollars are up for grabs to support it. It is simply outrageous.”