DeSantis Backs Discipline of Jacksonville Aide Who Warned Public About ICE Operations
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday that the state will 'respect law enforcement' and 'the rule of law' as he backed Jacksonville’s decision to place its Hispanic Outreach Coordinator, Yanira 'Yaya' Cardona, on administrative leave after she used Instagram Live to warn residents that ICE had set up 'speed traps' and was targeting certain roads and types of businesses. Cardona, appointed by Democratic Mayor Donna Deegan, told viewers that 'ICE is out and about,' advised them to stay home if possible, and urged them to line up lawyers, powers of attorney and compliance plans amid stepped‑up immigration enforcement. DeSantis also referenced an unrelated Florida woman accused of assaulting ICE agents, saying, 'this is not Minneapolis. That is not going to end well for you in Florida,' underscoring his message that confrontation with officers will bring 'consequences.' Deegan, while stressing Jacksonville is 'a city of immigrants' and that many residents are frightened by national ICE crackdowns and reports of citizens being detained, said the leave was not about Cardona’s substantive warnings and that her video shared information already circulating in local news and on social media. The clash highlights how local officials walking a line between informing immigrant communities and avoiding interference with federal enforcement are colliding with Republican leaders who want state and city workers firmly on ICE’s side as raids expand nationwide.
📌 Key Facts
- Yanira 'Yaya' Cardona, Jacksonville’s Hispanic Outreach Coordinator, was placed on administrative leave after an Instagram livestream warning residents about ICE 'speed traps' and naming specific roads.
- Gov. Ron DeSantis publicly defended ICE and criticized Cardona’s actions, saying Florida will 'respect law enforcement' and that 'this is not Minneapolis.'
- Mayor Donna Deegan said Cardona’s leave was not about the content of her warnings, which she characterized as sharing already public information, while acknowledging high fear among immigrants over current ICE operations.
📊 Relevant Data
Between 2010 and 2022, the Hispanic/Latino population share in Duval County, Florida (which includes Jacksonville), increased from 7.6% to 11.8%, representing a growth of 4.2 percentage points, while the overall population grew, with White (Non-Hispanic) at 49.3%, Black (Non-Hispanic) at 29.5%, and Asian at 4.8% in 2022.
Duval County, FL population by year, race, & more — USAFacts
Recent Hispanic immigration to Florida, including Jacksonville, has been driven by factors such as political instability and economic crises in countries like Venezuela, Cuba, and Haiti, with significant influxes following events like Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017, leading to over 100,000 Puerto Ricans relocating to Florida.
Hispanics and Latinos in Florida — Wikipedia
Immigrants in Florida contribute $179 billion annually to the economy in personal income, making up over 27% of the labor force, but increased immigration has boosted housing demand, leading to higher rental costs and property values, with a Congressional Budget Office report noting a surge in immigration from 2021-2023 increased national rental vacancy rates dropping and rents rising by about 1%.
US policies promoting recent immigration from Latin America include humanitarian parole programs under the Biden Administration, which allowed entry for over 500,000 individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela between 2022 and 2024, facilitating legal pathways amid regional crises.
Rising Migration in Latin America and the Caribbean Has Ushered in a New Era — Migration Policy Institute
In Florida's construction industry, where immigrants comprise 38% of the workforce, stricter immigration enforcement has led to labor shortages, increasing construction costs by up to 20% in some areas and delaying projects, while also contributing to wage stagnation in low-skilled sectors due to competition.
How Immigration Policies Are Shaping Florida's Construction Industry & Real Estate Market — Walter Duke + Partners
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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