Wednesday, January 14, 2026

ANNALS OF DeSANTISTAN: Jacksonville official placed on leave for warning Instagram followers about ICE arrests, advising on how to avoid ‘targeting’. (A.G. Gamcarsli Florida Politics, January 14, 20260

There is no love or law in this attempt to intimidate the City of Jacksonville. Remember when Republicans were libertarian?  The lady asked people to hire lawyers and obey the law. What rough beasts "align" themselves with hateful politics that are unwritten and probably unconstitutional. From Florida Politics:

Jacksonville official placed on leave for warning Instagram followers about ICE arrests, advising on how to avoid ‘targeting’

'I wish that I could do more, and I wish that I could say more.'

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are making the rounds in Jacksonville, and consequences are being felt in City Hall, as a city official who advised her Instagram followers on how to avoid arrest and how to react if they are taken into custody has been put on administrative leave

Yanira Cardona, the city’s Hispanic Outreach Coordinator appointed by Mayor Donna Deegan, said early Wednesday that people who are taken in should “comply,” but they should have a plan because “they’re out in Jacksonville.”

By the end of the day, a Deegan spokesperson said Cardona was on leave while the administration addressed the matter.

Here’s some of what led to her suspension.

“We are living in very difficult times, but my best advice is: 1. Have a plan in place with your lawyers. 2. Give someone you trust power of attorney for your business and your children. 3. If you are stopped by law enforcement, please cooperate and follow their instructions/orders,” Cardona wrote Wednesday, with a video explaining where people should be most careful.

The video was posted during business hours on a weekday and appears to be filmed in an office in City Hall, though the barking of a dog at one point suggests that may not be the case.

“ICE is out and about,” she 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.”

“I wish I could do more, and I wish I could say more. But this is the best I could do,” Cardona added.

Cardona’s comments elicited backlash.

Attorney General James Uthmeier said “this is illegal and needs to be seriously addressed! My office will be writing a response on this. Absolutely unacceptable! Her actions are not in alignment with Florida’s immigration laws. I want to know how many more taxpayers dollars are paying for salaries encouraging lawlessness?,” asked Rep. Kiyan Michael.

“Florida taxpayers should not foot the bill for deranged anti-ICE rants on how to evade law endorsement. Mayor Deegan must hold Yanira Cardona accountable for her dangerous rhetoric,” the state party said.

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. His work also can be seen in the Washington Post, the New York Post, the Washington Times, and National Review, among other publications. He can be reached at AG@FloridaPolitics.comor on Twitter: @AGGancarski



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