Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announces increased protections for ICE agents in the state, and a California Senator was forcibly removed from a press conference with Homeland Security Director Kristi Noam.
Uthmeier announces increased protections for ICE agents ahead of planned weekend protests
State Attorney General James Uthmeier said Florida will never become California today at a press conference in Titusville.
Amid nationwide illegal immigration protests, Uthmeier laid out steps the state would be taking to protect immigration enforcement officers.
“You want to throw things at vehicles, rocks, or other objects, you’re going to do time. If you want to light things on fire and put people in harm's way, you are going to do time,” he said.
During the press conference, Uthmeier was flanked by law enforcement, including Florida Highway Patrol troopers and Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey.
Ahead of planned protests this weekend, Uthmeier warned of enhanced penalties passed by the state a couple of years ago under the anti-rioting act.
Uthmeier also unveiled a new program protecting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from having their personal information made public, something that’s become widely known as doxxing.
Ivey said law enforcement is fine with peaceful protests, but warned people not to the cross the line into obstruction or violence.
“If you let it turn violent, who you do not want to do that in Brevard County, I’m going to tell you that. And I believe I can speak for my fellow sheriffs around the rest of the state. You don’t want to let it happen. And just so there’s no confusion, because I don’t want to hear any whining later saying we didn’t know, I’m going to break it down for you, alright? Because as you watch these riots unfold across the rest, across the rest of the country, what you are seeing is buildings being burned down, police cars being bricked, having explosive devices thrown, them having fire guns pointed out and bricks thrown at them all in on,” he said.
“So I’m going to break it down for you, alright? And if somebody wants to know what I mean by turn violent, alright? This is what I mean. If you resist lawful orders, you’re going to jail. Let me be very clear about that. If you block an intersection or roadway in Brevard County, you are going to jail. If you flee arrest, you’re going to go to jail,” he continued.
Uthmeier also announced the appointment of agent Anthony Coker as Florida’s first state-embedded representative for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
California Senator forcibly removed from Noem press conference
Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California was forcibly removed from a press conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem this afternoon.
During the event in Los Angeles, Padilla interrupted Noem as she was making her first remarks, and then started to shout questions at her.
Shortly after that, security guards surrounded Padilla and took him out of the room, where he was put down on the floor and handcuffed, and it was all caught on multiple cell phone cameras.
Over the past few days, protests against immigration raids have been held in several cities, most notably Los Angeles.
Padilla has been critical of the Trump administration’s decision to mobilize the state’s national guard to protect federal buildings during the protests.
Earlier this week, in a social media post, Padilla said that move was a,“test run for using the military against any American city he chooses.”