Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Monday that his Office of Statewide Prosecution has issued a criminal subpoena to the City of Jacksonville and Mayor Donna Deegan’s administration.
The action targets potential interference with federal immigration enforcement following a controversial Instagram livestream by the city’s Hispanic Outreach Coordinator, Yanira Cardona.
Uthmeier highlighted the subpoena on X, stressing the investigation focuses on whether city officials coordinated efforts to impede Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“If there’s evidence that the administration worked to obstruct federal enforcement or harbor criminal aliens, we will hold them accountable,” he wrote.
The controversy centers on a livestream Cardona posted from her city office in mid-January.
During the video, she described ongoing ICE operations in Jacksonville as harassment and advised residents to prepare legal documents, assign power of attorney, and exercise caution if approached by federal agents.
State officials quickly condemned the actions, emphasizing that Florida law requires local authorities to cooperate with federal immigration efforts.
At a press conference, Uthmeier reiterated the legal obligations of local officials.
“We have a situation where a city official was publicly alerting people to ICE operations, interfering with enforcement efforts. This is the state of Florida. Local authorities do not have discretion to undermine federal law,” he said, according to Florida’s Voice.
Uthmeier also addressed Mayor Deegan’s position, which denied wrongdoing.
“The mayor maintains nothing improper occurred, but if the investigation uncovers coordinated obstruction among city employees or outside organizations, those responsible will face consequences,” he added.
The subpoena demands that the City of Jacksonville provide all communications between Cardona and city officials from Jan. 2 through Jan. 16, including emails, phone logs, and devices used for official business.
Officials are particularly focused on messages that could suggest coordination to avoid contact with ICE or conceal the locations of enforcement activities. The city must respond by Feb. 20, according to CBS 12.
Cardona, who was appointed to the newly created outreach role, was placed on administrative leave following the livestream.
State officials and local Republican groups criticized the use of taxpayer-funded resources to post the video during work hours, calling for accountability.
Mayor Deegan’s office issued a statement affirming full cooperation with the subpoena while defending the administration’s actions.
According to First Coast News, the statement emphasized that the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office holds primary responsibility for coordinating with federal immigration agencies and that the mayor does not oversee those operations.
City officials stressed their commitment to public safety, legal compliance, and transparency.
The case underscores growing tensions between state authorities and municipal administrations regarding immigration enforcement.
Uthmeier’s office noted that the investigation could set a precedent for how local governments balance city governance with state oversight, particularly in states with strict cooperation requirements.
As Florida continues to prioritize law enforcement cooperation, the subpoena signals increased scrutiny of city practices and serves as a warning that local officials cannot disregard state or federal immigration law without consequence.
It is speculated that citizens and observers will be watching the case closely to see how accountability is enforced and whether municipal compliance aligns with statewide law enforcement priorities.
