JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mayor Donna Deegan has yet to sign a bill aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration in Jacksonville. The City Council approved the measure earlier this week.
Deegan stated she is not rushing to make a decision on the bill. While she does not oppose certain aspects, she wants to ensure there are no negative repercussions.
“My biggest concern when it comes to these types of bills is that we have already seen lawsuits that have been filed in other states,” Deegan said during a town hall meeting.
The mayor addressed a group concerned about the new immigration bill, which aims to enhance local law enforcement’s ability to identify individuals in the country illegally.
The bill proposes funding for 25 additional fingerprint scanners and requires local law enforcement to notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) upon making an arrest.
“I have always been a believer that law enforcement needs the tools they say they need,” Deegan said. “I don’t have a problem with the piece of that bill that the sheriff says he needs to make sure he has the equipment to do his job.”
Despite her support for providing resources to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Deegan expressed concern about potential lawsuits arising from the bill.
“There is a lot to this; there is a whole lot to it. I never make snap decisions on anything,” she added.
Florida Attorney General James Uthimer, who spoke at another event, emphasized that local governments and law enforcement must do everything possible with available resources to assist the federal government in enforcing immigration laws.
“The city should do everything possible with the resources they have to help the federal government execute federal immigration laws. That has been made clear,” Uthimer said. ”If a city official takes action that impedes or prevents law enforcement from undergoing necessary training and participating with the feds to get these people back to where they came from, then I do believe the law is violated, and there will be penalties for that.”
While Uthimer said he does not know the specifics of Jacksonville’s bill, he commended cities that are taking steps to address illegal immigration.
Deegan has until the next council meeting on April 8 to either sign the bill, have it become law without her signature or veto it.
