In compliance with federal and state law, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings signed an addendum to the county’s 287(g) contract with U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday, allowing local corrections officers to transport immigrant detainees to federal detentions.
“We really had to do, so I signed the damn thing. We were put in a tough place,” Demings told reporters at an Orlando press conference late Friday. “We cannot take the entire county commission and myself out of our office.”
The addendum gives the corrections staff in Orange County authority to transport detained individuals to ice-approved facilities.
Earlier in the week, Demings publicly resisted the pressure to sign. He denounced Uthmeier on Overreach and said he was “unbullying” in implementing immigration policies that he believed should remain federal responsibility. However, his office received warnings about possible civil and criminal sanctions, including removal from the office if they did not comply.
Demings, a former sheriff, is the husband of former Democrat, Val Demings. The couple is known as one example of democratic success in Central Florida, otherwise a Republican heavy nation. Demings usually breaks the ranks on behalf of Democrats, along with other former sheriffs on social issues and support for candidates. Demings’ initial rebellion would not undermine recognition with the majority of voters in the region.
Orange County’s Democrats voter registration is 12% higher than Republicans. Orange County voters were registered as “no party affiliation” (NPA), surpassing Republican voters by 21,000 voters, with 246,501 registered NPA and 225,571 registered Republicans.
