Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan thought she was above the law.
She spent months protecting a staffer who warned illegal aliens how to dodge ICE.
And Florida's Attorney General just served a criminal subpoena that sent Jacksonville’s Democrat Mayor into full panic mode.
Deegan's staffer tipped off illegal aliens about ICE operations
Jacksonville's Democrat Mayor Donna Deegan has been fighting Florida Republicans on immigration enforcement for nearly a year.
Now her defiance just caught up with her.
Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Monday he's sending a criminal subpoena to Deegan's administration over allegations they coordinated to obstruct federal immigration enforcement.
The investigation centers on Yanira Cardona, Deegan's Director of Hispanic Outreach, who livestreamed warnings about ICE locations on Instagram in January.
"ICE is out and about," Cardona said on the video filmed inside City Hall during work hours. "They are doing speed traps. They are, they've been seen on Emerson, on Beach Boulevard, on Atlantic and on the highway. They are targeting, literally, they're targeting any lawn care companies, any AC company construction vans."
Cardona went on to advise people how to avoid ICE and what to do if stopped.
https://twitter.com/AGJamesUthmeier/status/2020870918277374380?s=20
Deegan initially placed Cardona on leave, then quietly reinstated her days later.
She claimed Cardona only violated the city's social media policy and that "nothing wrong happened here."
Uthmeier made it clear he disagrees.
AG warns RICO charges possible if coordination is proven
The criminal subpoena seeks all records produced by or sent to Cardona between January 2 and January 16.
That includes communications on city-provided devices and personal devices used for city business.
The subpoena also seeks records involving Jennifer Cruz, a woman accused of assaulting federal agents during immigration operations in Jacksonville last month.
Cruz was arrested in January during the same period Cardona posted her livestream.
Uthmeier didn't mince words about what Deegan's staffer did.
"If you want to flag personal information, locations, details about law enforcement officers to try to harass them, scare them, threaten them, or impede law enforcement operations, that is a crime," Uthmeier said. "We will not stand for that."
The Attorney General revealed that anti-racketeering laws and even anti-doxxing statutes could be in play.
That means Deegan and her staff could be looking at serious federal charges if they're caught coordinating with outside groups to obstruct ICE.
"If there's a coordinated effort for this city official to work with other city employees or outside NGOs to try to thwart our efforts, to enforce the law, that we will hold these wrongdoers accountable," Uthmeier pledged.
Uthmeier made clear that local officials don't have discretion when it comes to federal immigration enforcement.
"Local officials, they do not have discretion," Uthmeier explained. "There is an obligation to use best efforts to facilitate, help the federal government carry out their law enforcement efforts."
Jacksonville's city attorney Michael Fackler previously said Cardona's video didn't violate any laws.
Deegan followed his lead and claimed Cardona's only violation was breaching the city's social media policy.
But Uthmeier isn't buying it.
The city's Custodian of Records has been ordered to appear at the AG's Jacksonville office on February 20 to testify.
https://twitter.com/JakeStofan/status/2020924670984196105?s=20
Deegan has a history of obstructing immigration enforcement despite being legally required to cooperate.
She refused to sign one immigration bill in April 2025 that made it a local crime for illegal aliens to reside in Jacksonville, letting it become law without her signature.
She later vetoed another immigration bill in June 2025 that would have tracked city grant spending to ensure funds weren't going to illegal aliens.
City Council failed to override her veto.
Throughout the immigration battles, Deegan defended Jacksonville's illegal alien population.
She held up a photo of her Lebanese immigrant family and declared that immigrants "belong" in Jacksonville.
Deegan said she objected to Jacksonville's immigration ordinances because they "put a target on the backs of our entire immigrant population."
The Florida Attorney General just put a different kind of target on Deegan's back.
Sources:
- A.G. Gancarski, "James Uthmeier subpoenas Donna Deegan administration, says city may have impeded immigration enforcement," Florida Politics, February 9, 2026.
- Sophie Pendrill, "AG issues criminal subpoena to Jacksonville Mayor's team over alleged ICE obstruction," CBS12, February 9, 2026.
- ActionNewsJax.com News Staff, "Florida AG subpoenas Deegan, City of Jacksonville over employee's controversial livestream," Action News Jax, February 9, 2026.
- A.G. Gancarski, "Jacksonville official placed on leave for warning Instagram followers about ICE arrests, advising on how to avoid 'targeting'," Florida Politics, January 14, 2026.
