On Tuesday night, the Jacksonville City Council once again bowed to the toxic brand of politics pushed by Council Member Rory Diamond, passing a dangerous and cruel ordinance that prohibits city-funded nonprofits from providing services to undocumented residents.
Let’s be clear: this bill is about scoring political points, not solving real problems. While some carveouts were added to shield a few children’s services from the fallout, the damage is still devastating. Nonprofits that provide food, shelter, and basic healthcare will now be forced to choose between helping families in need or losing essential city funding. And make no mistake — children will suffer.
“This is a bill written with the intent to punish, not protect. It strips away support from families simply because of their immigration status and undermines the work of trusted community partners who serve those most in need,” said Duval Dems Vice Chair Hanna Moore. “It’s big government overreach masquerading as policy.”
The ordinance passed despite bipartisan opposition, including warnings from Council Members who noted the public safety risks of forcing people further into the shadows. As Council Member Jimmy Peluso pointed out, “This bill could put public safety at risk… it will prevent people, who pay into our tax base, from accessing city programs & non-profits meant to save lives.”
This isn’t what voters want. According to the latest Jax Speaks poll conducted by the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab, immigration ranks dead last among issues voters care about.
“This kind ordinance fuels distrust in government. Jacksonville families are looking for solutions on housing affordability, food insecurity, and economic development — and instead they get legislation that grabs food from the mouths of children,” said Duval Dems Chair Daniel Henry. “They’re legislating cruelty”.
“Councilman Rory Diamond has once again proven his divisive politics are poisoning the Council’s credibility and hurting our most vulnerable neighbors”, said Jacksonville Young Dems President Millie Leeds. “The Council may have tried to water this down, but no amount of edits can cleanse the cruelty baked into this bill.”
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