As Jacksonville’s City Council recently voted 11-7 in favor of legislation that would prohibit city funds from supporting undocumented immigrants, we must ask: What kind of city do we want to be?
The proposal — framed as a matter of “fiscal responsibility” or “law and order” — is not only legally questionable, but also morally shortsighted and dangerously out of step with the facts.
Let’s start with what the U.S. Constitution says. The 14th Amendment guarantees that “no state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
That’s person, not citizen. Courts have affirmed again and again that these protections extend to undocumented immigrants. They live here, work here and pay taxes. Many are raising U.S.-born children that are citizens. They are members of our churches, schools and neighborhoods.
So when city officials move to block funding for clinics, housing support, violence prevention or other vital services based solely on immigration status, they aren’t just making a policy choice — they’re flirting with constitutional violations.
Let’s be honest: Fear is really what’s driving this proposal. We hear rhetoric that paints undocumented immigrants as a threat to public safety. But that narrative simply isn’t supported by the facts.
Crime rates have been steadily dropping across the country for years. According to the most recent data, violent crime, property crime and homicides are all on the decline. Yet instead of celebrating this progress, some politicians would rather stoke fear by suggesting that undocumented immigrants are to blame for problems that are (statistically speaking) getting better.
This is not about safety. This is about scapegoating.
Denying basic services to undocumented immigrants doesn’t make our city safer, but does the opposite. When people are afraid to report crimes, seek medical care or use city resources — because doing so might expose their immigration status — we all suffer. Public safety depends on trust between communities and their local governments. Destroy that trust and you create shadows where real danger can thrive.
We must also consider our moral obligations. Many of us are guided by values that transcend party lines or legal codes, such as compassion, dignity and justice. Whether rooted in faith, human rights or common decency, these values compel us to care for all our neighbors, regardless of documentation.
The truth is, you don’t have to support open borders to believe that cities should be places of refuge and basic fairness. You don’t have to agree on federal immigration policy to recognize that punishing the poor, the sick or the marginalized is not leadership, but cowardice.
Jacksonville can do better. We can uphold the Constitution and protect public health and safety while building a more inclusive city, without falling prey to the politics of fear.
Mayor Donna Deegan should veto this harmful and unnecessary legislation. Not just because it’s bad policy, but because it’s an affront to the kind of community we claim to be.
Kevin Gay is the founder of Operation New Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to helping the formerly incarcerated re-enter the workforce. Now retired, he was born and raised in Jacksonville, where he still lives.
This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions.
(This story was updated to correct an inaccuracy.)
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville shouldn’t use fear to deny services to undocumented immigrants | Opinion
Reporting by Kevin Gay / Florida Times-Union
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