Florida locked Jennifer Cruz up after she decided ICE enforcement was optional.
Now DeSantis has a message for anyone thinking Florida is Minneapolis.
And Ron DeSantis dropped a warning after this Jacksonville woman punched a trooper during an ICE operation.
Cruz went from protester to prisoner in minutes
Jennifer Cruz jumped out of her car outside Mi Pueblo Mexican grocery store in Jacksonville and punched a Florida Highway Patrol trooper in the face.
Attorney General James Uthmeier posted Cruz's arrest photo on social media with a blunt message.
"Jennifer disagrees with immigration enforcement and decided to commit a few felonies by getting out of her car and punching a trooper in the face," Uthmeier wrote. "But unlike Minnesota, we don't put up with this nonsense. Not today, Jennifer."
https://twitter.com/AGJamesUthmeier/status/2012197451336232979?s=20
Video from the scene showed troopers swarming Cruz on the pavement after she allegedly attacked officers working alongside Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
She kicked and screamed as officers struggled to restrain her, taunting police and calling one officer a "weak-ass motherf***er."
Officers tased her after she kicked at them from inside the squad car.
Cruz was booked into the Duval County Jail on eight felony charges and six misdemeanors.
She was released on bond following her arrest and is scheduled to appear in court on February 4.
Florida's not Minneapolis
DeSantis addressed Cruz's arrest Thursday during a health-related news conference in Jacksonville.
He delivered a stark warning to anyone considering similar interference with federal immigration operations.
"I do know there was a woman who came out and assaulted one of our troopers. Let me just tell you guys, this is not Minneapolis. That is not going to end well for you in Florida," DeSantis said.
He acknowledged the right to criticize government policy and protest within designated zones.
But assault on law enforcement officers crosses a line Florida won't tolerate.
"You have a right to go out there and criticize government policy. You can go out there and protest within respected zones, but the idea that you're going to assault one of our troopers is unacceptable, and you are going to face consequences as a result of that," DeSantis added.
The Minneapolis reference wasn't random.
https://twitter.com/RonDeSantis/status/2011805314677342374?s=20
Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent during a confrontation on a Minneapolis street on January 7.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called for ICE to "get the f*** out of Minneapolis" after Good's death.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz accused ICE of pulling over people indiscriminately.
Florida doesn't operate that way.
Jacksonville official placed on leave for helping illegal aliens dodge ICE
Cruz's arrest came amid a broader crackdown on those undermining federal immigration enforcement in Jacksonville.
Yanira Cardona, Jacksonville's Hispanic Outreach Coordinator appointed by Mayor Donna Deegan, was placed on administrative leave after broadcasting warnings to potential immigration violators.
Cardona went live on Instagram Wednesday, alerting followers that ICE agents were "out and about" in Jacksonville.
She detailed hotspots where agents supposedly targeted lawn care companies, air conditioning services, and construction vans.
"They are literally stopping them just to make sure that they have their paperwork," Cardona said in the video.
Her advice included stocking up on lawyers and granting power of attorney for businesses and children.
DeSantis addressed the situation during his Jacksonville press conference.
"I know you had that one woman in the City of Jacksonville government putting out information. Look, that's not the way we roll here in the state of Florida," DeSantis said.
"We're going to respect law enforcement, respect the rule of law."
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier condemned Cardona's post as "illegal and needs to be seriously addressed."
https://twitter.com/AGJamesUthmeier/status/2011800589882061213?s=20
The Republican Party of Florida demanded accountability, calling Cardona's rhetoric "dangerous" and urging Mayor Deegan to act decisively.
"Florida taxpayers should not foot the bill for deranged anti-ICE rants on how to evade law enforcement," they said.
DeSantis touted Florida's unprecedented cooperation with ICE during his State of the State address Tuesday.
Florida handed over nearly 20,000 illegal aliens to the Department of Homeland Security in just nine months.
The state stands alone as the only one mandating state and local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Through programs like Operation Tide and 287(g) agreements enabling local law enforcement to work directly with ICE, Florida has positioned itself as the second state in the nation for immigrant arrests, trailing only Texas.
Florida has signed 325 agreements with ICE — a 577% increase since Trump began his second term.
That's Florida setting the standard while Minneapolis burns.
Sources:
- Frank Kopylov, "Jacksonville official placed on leave after urging social media followers to dodge ICE enforcement," Florida's Voice, January 15, 2026.
- Anita Padilla, "Jacksonville woman allegedly punches trooper during ICE operation; DeSantis, Uthmeier issue warning," Florida's Voice, January 15, 2026.
- Richard Pollina, "Grinning anti-ICE agitator arrested after allegedly punching Florida trooper as DeSantis warns: 'This is not Minneapolis,'" New York Post, January 16, 2026.
- Jake Stofan, "'This is not Minneapolis:' Gov. DeSantis addresses recent ICE operations in Jacksonville," Action News Jax, January 15, 2026.
- James Rodriguez, "Ron DeSantis Highlights Migrant Arrest Figures in Florida: More Expected," America TeVe, January 15, 2026.
- ICE, "ICE awards Florida's state and local law enforcement with 287(g) funds to defend homeland," September 26, 2025.
