Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Deegan made it clear that, despite reservations, she will not stand in the way of Ordinance 2025-147, though she will refrain from adding her signature to it. In her recent remarks, Mayor Deegan emphasized her commitment to supporting immigrant communities and maintaining public safety without causing fear among law-abiding residents. "To every immigrant living in Jacksonville—whether you’ve been here for decades or just arrived—I want you to hear this from your Mayor: You belong. You matter. You are loved. And we will continue to stand with you," Mayor Deegan expressed in her statement obtained by the official City of Jacksonville website.
The controversial ordinance has been criticized for its potential to not only stoke fear in Jacksonville's immigrant population but also to draw the city into costly legal battles. "There is nothing in this bill that isn’t already required by federal or state law," Mayor Deegan said, questioning the need for redundancy when state laws already carry harsher penalties. Funding for mobile fingerprint scanners requested by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) will still proceed, an effort by the mayor to adequately provide the equipment needed to help ensure that law enforcement can appropriately continue their work, as per the City of Jacksonville.
Mayor Deegan was adamant that immigrants are an integral part of Jacksonville's community, contributing a reported 1.4 billion dollars in taxes annually and exhibiting lower per capita crime rates than native-born Americans. The mayor, flanked by local community and religious leaders who supported her in their personal capacities, praised the JSO's efforts in bringing down violent crime statistics in the city.
While Deegan has decided to let the ordinance pass without her signature, she expressed deep concern about the chilling effect it may have on immigrant communities. "Right now, I’m hearing from people here lawfully who are terrified they’ll be swept up in all of this whether it’s meant for them or not," Deegan stated in her address, highlighting the potential consequences of creating an unwelcoming atmosphere. "When people feel targeted, they are less likely to report crimes, seek medical help, send their children to school, or cooperate with police. That makes all of us less safe," she further explained, as detailed by the City of Jacksonville.
Despite her firm stance against Ordinance 2025-147, Mayor Deegan's decision to allow it to become law without her signature is a move meant to not impede the local enforcement authorities, a calculated position in a complex immigration and public safety debate. "I do not believe this bill is necessary. And I will not sign it," the mayor affirmed, making a deliberate choice to distance her name from legislation she believes contributes to unnecessary fear among immigrants residing lawfully in Jacksonville. The full remarks can be read on the City of Jacksonville's official website.
