Orange County Signs ICE Addendum After State Pressure

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has signed an agreement addendum allowing county corrections officers to transport immigration detainees to ICE detention centers, reversing the county's prior refusal. The move followed threats from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier of civil and criminal penalties, including possible removal from office, for not complying with state law requiring local cooperation with ICE. State leaders, including Governor Ron DeSantis, criticized the county for allegedly adopting a 'sanctuary' policy. Previously, Demings and county commissioners had objected to the addendum, citing resource constraints and concerns over burdening local staff and taxpayers. The county commission is set to review the agreement for ratification. The situation underscores ongoing conflict in Florida over state-mandated immigration enforcement versus local autonomy.