JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Protesters gathered Tuesday night after the Jacksonville City Council passed a controversial ordinance bill by a vote of 11-7.

The ordinance, introduced by Councilman Rory Diamond, would prohibit organizations from using city money to support services for immigrants without permanent legal status and would require the mayor’s office to provide a detailed report of how much money the city spends on them. Mayor Donna Deegan can either veto the bill, sign the bill or do nothing — which will lead to the ordinance becoming law.  

After the city council meeting, protesters gathered outside, banging on the windows outside City Hall each time a council member who voted for the bill walked by.

Councilmember Jimmy Peluso, who voted against the bill, addressed protesters outside, saying, “You did the right thing. You spoke for your neighbors, you spoke for your community. You spoke for what was right. Now let’s make sure that the rest of the council continues to hear you and let’s see if we can make this right in the next couple of weeks. We still have the mayor to talk to– talk to the mayor.”

Earlier in the day, a rally organized by the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance took place outside City Hall. 

One of the organizers, Maria Garcia, called the ordinance a “political stunt.” 

“It’s not right, it’s political games, it’s political theater, and it has nothing to do with our very real problems,” Garcia said. “People can’t pay their rent, there are people sleeping on the streets.”

At the time, Diamond responded to the criticism, saying the ordinance is necessary to ensure taxpayer dollars are being used responsibly.

“What’s harmful is lying to people, telling them to come to America and get free services and there will be no repercussions if you break our laws,” Diamond said.

After the vote, he wrote on Twitter, saying: “Tonight the Council PASSED my bill 2025-138 that stops funding for illegals aliens in Jacksonville. Tonight we stood for the rule of law.  To night we said we aren’t Los Angeles.  Tonight we said with conviction that Jacksonville will never be a sanctuary city.”