Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings signs ICE agreement amid pressure from Gov. DeSantis, AG Uthmeier

Orange County mayor signs ICE agreement after state pressure

Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings said at a news conference on Friday afternoon that he signed a new ICE agreement earlier this morning after pressure from the state. Earlier this month, Demings stated that the county would not participate in long-distance detainee transports, citing a shortage of correctional staff and budget constraints. That position has now escalated into a political standoff with the state, drawing scrutiny from both the attorney general and the governor.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings on Friday signed an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to assist in the transport of suspected undocumented immigrants to Alligator Alcatraz, a detention facility in the Everglades.

The signed agreement comes days after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier threatened to potentially remove Mayor Demings and members of the Board of County Commissioners from their positions if they did not sign the agreement, citing a violation of state law – and a power Gov. DeSantis has wielded before.

Gov. DeSantis discusses immigration enforcement

Gov. Ron DeSantis and several top state officials held a news conference at the Florida Highway Patrol’s Troop D Headquarters in Orlando to highlight the agency’s recent immigration enforcement efforts.

Florida Attorney General sends letter to Mayor Demings, Orange County Commissioners over ICE agreement addendum

"Florida law forbids sanctuary policies and requires locals to use "best efforts" to assist with immigration enforcement," Attorney General Uthmeier wrote in a post on X, which included a copy of the letter sent.

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"The Orange County Commission must adopt the ICE Addendum and allow Corrections Officers to transport illegal aliens to approved detention facilities."

Orange County Mayor Demings: I won't be bullied

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings told news outlets that the county helps house detainees for ICE, but does not have the resources – people or money – to help transport those people to Alligator Alcatraz, which is hours away. 

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"This notion that somehow we have not cooperated with ICE is a misnomer," Mayor Demings told reporters earlier this week.

"We already have shortages of correctional staff at the Orange County Jail," he said.

He said pulling corrections officers from their duties would make the county less safe. 

Orange County Mayor Demings signs the agreement

On Friday, shortly before Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had a scheduled press conference with Florida Highway Patrol's Troop D – which oversees Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Lake, Seminole, and Volusia – Orange County revealed the agreement had been signed.

Attorney General Uthmeier thanked the Mayor for "changing course" and "doing what is right and required by Florida law."

Press conference: DeSantis touts FHP success with ICE immigration enforcement

Gov. DeSantis discusses immigration enforcement

Gov. Ron DeSantis and several top state officials held a news conference at the Florida Highway Patrol’s Troop D Headquarters in Orlando to highlight the agency’s recent immigration enforcement efforts.