Deegan says employee was placed on leave for policy violation, not for discussing reported increased ICE presence

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan held a news conference on Thursday to address the city’s action of placing an employee on leave one day after they posted a video talking about recent reports of increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents across the area.

Throughout the conference, Deegan made it clear that Yanira “Yaya” Cardona, the city’s Hispanic Outreach Coordinator, was placed on administrative leave due to violating policy, not for the content of the video that sparked controversy and has captured the attention of Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: City of Jacksonville employee placed on administrative leave after posting video on recent reports of ICE raids

“It wasn’t the content of what she said that I took issue with,” Deegan said. “We have a policy in this city...we have people who follow policy that, if you are going to create any sort of social media content, or make any commentary, especially in this office, that would be construed as coming from the mayor, that has to come through me or through our communications office. Period.”

Deegan noted that “some people” have struggled with following that concept, and Cardona has “unfortunately struggled with [the policy] repeatedly.”

The mayor’s full news conference can be watched below in the video player

“If you have a policy that is not followed, it doesn’t continue to be a policy,” Deegan said. “If you don’t make some sort of consequence to that, then I think people aren’t going to take it seriously.”

Deegan continued to reiterate that the content of Cardona’s video was well within bounds, and that she was “simply giving information” that “came from a place of compassion.”

She went on to say that she values Jacksonville’s immigrant community and, if she asks citizens to comply with the city’s partnership with ICE, she expects ICE agents to follow the law as well.

The mayor also noted that the situation puts her in a tough situation because the Hispanic community in Jacksonville now makes up about 12% of the city’s population; however, she said she has no power over ICE’s presence in Jacksonville and that the situation has given “grist to the political mill.”

“At the end of the day, I am a mayor for the people with whom I agree, with whom I disagree, and most importantly, for the most vulnerable in this community...I am here for them and for them to know that they are a valued part of the mosaic of this city.”

On Thursday, the city told News4JAX that Cardona was placed on administrative leave while officials review the matter.

In the video, posted on Instagram, Cardona addresses the recent reports about increased ICE enforcement across Northeast Florida.

“If you get pulled over, as much as we want to huff and puff, please comply,” Cardona said in the video.

In the video, Cardona also asked families to have a plan in case they get arrested and to “stay home” if there’s no need to go outside.

“They are out stopping people. They are doing speed traps. They’re stopping people in vans. They’re stopping people in construction vans and lawn care vans. They’re targeting specifically Hispanic and non-American businesses,” Cardona said.

News4JAX has not been able to verify the claims made by Cardona about how immigration enforcement is being carried out.

Deegan confirmed that Cardona was in her office and on office hours when she made the controversial social post.

Uthmeier took to social media to condemn the comments made in the video and appeared to call them “illegal,” but Deegan pushed back and said Cardona did not break the law.

Kiyan Michael, Representative of Florida’s State House District 16, also responded to the remarks made in the video.

Additionally, Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was in Jacksonville on Thursday for a health-related news conference, was asked about the recent reports of increased ICE operations in Northeast Florida and mentioned Cardona’s situation.

“You had that one woman in the City of Jacksonville’s government...that’s not the way we roll in Florida, we’re going to respect law enforcement... and if you want an open border or an amnesty, I wouldn’t support that, but there’s a process,” the governor said.

The governor also specifically addressed the arrest of Jennifer Cruz, a local woman who, according to Uthmeier, was arrested Tuesday after she punched a Florida Highway Patrol trooper in the face during an encounter with ICE agents on Beach Boulevard.

DeSantis’ comments on ICE operations in Florida can be seen on the video player below

“This is not Minneapolis. This is not going to end well for you in Florida. You have a right to go out there and criticize government policy. You can go out there and protest within respected zones, but the idea that you’re going to assault one of our troopers is unacceptable, and you are going to face consequences as a result of that,” DeSantis said.

This week, conversations about the presence of ICE in Northeast Florida have ramped up after dozens of community members, especially in the Hispanic community, have reported a notable increase in immigration-related arrests.

On Wednesday evening, immigration attorney Andrea Reyes held a livestream via Facebook to address the recent reported ICE raids that have taken place across the area and to inform people about their rights.

“I am hosting this livestream on behalf of those who have been detained, those who are still detained, and for our people who are living with so much fear,” Reyes said in Spanish as she struggled to hold back the tears. “I want us to be aware that this is not going to change overnight, with $170 billion... things are only going to get worse.”

The Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance sent out a statement denouncing the surge in ICE sightings and calling for the community to come together.

For the past several days, a wave of immigration raids has terrorized Jacksonville and the surrounding area.

This escalation, empowered by local 287(g) agreements between JSO and immigration enforcement, has brought targeted operations to our schools, paralyzed local businesses as patrons fear leaving home, and created an atmosphere of raw panic. Our neighbors are left to deal with the fallout—families torn apart, incomes lost, and lives thrown into crisis as loved ones are detained.

JIRA stands in unwavering solidarity with every immigrant resident, worker, and family enduring this brutality. We call on all people of conscience in Jacksonville to stand with us.

The state’s strategy is fear. Our answer is organized action.

Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance (JIRA)

News4JAX has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) multiple times in the last two days to get more information regarding the reported increased ICE presence in the area, as well as the number of arrests, but it has not responded to our requests.