JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two Jacksonville lawmakers are pushing for tougher local immigration policies through two separate proposals.
One of the bills, spearheaded by Council Vice President Kevin Carrico, is heading to city council committees this week.
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Carrico’s bill, Ordinance 2024-147, aims to provide the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office with new tools to carry out immigration enforcement, like 25 mobile fingerprint scanners. The bill would appropriate $76,250 for JSO to pay for the scanners.
It also would set harsher penalties for immigrants who are not in the country legally, including “imprisonment of 60 days” for those entering or reentering the city without permanent legal status.
The bill also mandates local law enforcement to notify ICE and FDLE if an arrest is made under this provision.
The bill, however, has been met with backlash.
Maria Garcia from the Jacksonville Immigration Rights Alliance has voiced strong opposition, arguing that these measures unfairly target immigrants and waste police resources.
During a February protest outside city hall, Garcia expressed her concerns.
“They’re calling it a crackdown on illegal immigration, but let’s call it what it really is: a hateful, fear-driven attack on people who are just trying to live their lives,” Garcia said.
But Carrico dismisses the criticism.
According to Jacksonville Today, he called it a “liberal-slanted false narrative,” insisting that his bill is focused on safety and targeting lawbreakers.
The second bill, Ordinance 2025-138, was proposed by City Councilman Rory Diamond to track how city, state and federal grants are used for services that support immigrants who are not in the country legally.
Diamond emphasizes the importance of ensuring that taxpayer money is not allocated to those who are in the country illegally.
Meanwhile, Mayor Donna Deegan’s team is reviewing whether the bills overlap with existing laws. Carrico’s bill is scheduled for committee discussions on March 17 and 18.
According to Jacksonville Today, Diamond’s bill has been deferred for two weeks.
