Speaking in Jacksonville, Gov. Ron DeSantis offered his first comments on an official in Mayor Donna Deegan’s administration who used city resources to warn illegal immigrants about immigration policing and advise them on how to avoid apprehension.
“I know you had that one woman in the city of Jacksonville government putting out information. Look, that’s not the way we roll here in the state of Florida. You know, we’re going to respect law enforcement, respect the rule of law,” DeSantis said at the Mayo Clinic.
Yanira Cardona, the city’s Hispanic Outreach Coordinator, said early Wednesday that people who are taken in should “comply,” but they should have a plan.
Cardona currently is on administrative leave while the Mayor’s Office assesses the matter.
“ICE is out and about,” Cardona said. “They are doing speed traps. They are, they’ve been seen on Emerson, on Beach Boulevard, on Atlantic and on the highway. They are targeting, literally, they’re targeting any lawn care companies, any AC company construction vans. They’re literally stopping them just to make sure that they have their paperwork.”
DeSantis also promised there would be “consequences” for Jennifer Cruz, a woman accused of assaulting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers while they conducted their duties.
“I do know there was a woman who came out and assaulted one of our troopers. Let me just tell you guys, this is not Minneapolis. That is not going to end well for you in Florida,” he said.
DeSantis said immigration police “have a right to be discharging their duties.”