Florida's Attorney General, James Uthmeier, has issued a subpoena to the city of Jacksonville as part of an investigation into alleged immigration enforcement interference by the city's first Hispanic outreach coordinator, Yanira Cardona. Uthmeier announced this development on social media, asserting that the investigation is aimed at holding accountable any actions by the Deegan administration that might obstruct immigration enforcement.
The subpoena, obtained through a public records request, requires City Hall to produce communications, including emails, text messages, and social media interactions of Cardona by February 20. This inquiry comes shortly after Cardona returned from a brief suspension due to a viral video in which she discussed how to navigate interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), emphasizing compliance with law enforcement.
City officials are expected to provide records regarding interactions with federal agents and any methods suggested to avoid law enforcement contact. Among the documents requested are communications containing specific words that raise concerns about the administration's influence on immigration issues.
Despite the investigation, Melissa Ross, director of strategic initiatives for Deegan, affirmed that Cardona remains in her position. The Deegan administration expressed willingness to cooperate with the legal proceedings while framing the subpoena as a partisan attack, suggesting that Uthmeier is more focused on electoral politics than genuine public concerns.
As criticism from the attorney general mounts, Uthmeier has pointed to a state law enacted last year to coordinate local and federal immigration enforcement. He argues that any local interference could violate this law, emphasizing that if wrongdoing exists, action will be taken against those involved.
In response, immigrants' rights advocates, including Maria Garcia from the Jacksonville Immigrants Rights Alliance, have denounced the subpoena as a political maneuver, asserting that sharing information about law enforcement presence is not an impediment to effective enforcement.
The fallout from Cardona's viral video and the subsequent investigation reflects heightened tensions surrounding immigration policies and local governance as the political climate in Florida becomes increasingly charged preceding upcoming elections.
