Orange County mayor threatens to cancel ICE agreement over costs

Mayor Jerry Demings says the county is bearing the financial burden of housing ICE detainees and demands higher reimbursement rates from the federal government.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has sent a letter to federal officials threatening to cancel the county's agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) next month if the federal government fails to renegotiate a higher reimbursement rate for the cost of detaining federal inmates in the Orange County Jail. Demings says the county is currently reimbursed $88 per person held, while the actual cost is $180 per person.

Why it matters

The dispute over reimbursement rates highlights the financial burden that local governments face when collaborating with federal immigration enforcement. Activists have called for the county to end its agreement with ICE altogether, but Florida state law requires local governments to demonstrate 'best efforts' to support federal immigration enforcement.

The details

Under the county's intergovernmental services agreement with ICE, the Orange County Jail is allowed to serve as a temporary detention facility for people arrested by ICE. County officials say they contacted the U.S. Marshals Service six months ago to request a higher reimbursement rate, but federal officials have failed to offer a suitable rate. Demings says the deficit the county is facing for housing ICE detainees has 'grown exponentially' since August, with the number of people held in the jail solely on ICE charges increasing nearly 300% from October 2025 to January 2026.

  • In August 2025, county officials contacted the U.S. Marshals Service to request a higher reimbursement rate.
  • On February 13, 2026, Demings sent a letter to the U.S. Marshals Service threatening to cancel the agreement if a fair reimbursement rate is not offered by March 13, 2026.
  • In January 2026, ICE booked 1,849 people into the Orange County Jail, up from 550 people in October 2025.

The players

Jerry Demings

The Democratic mayor of Orange County, Florida, who is running for Florida Governor this year.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency responsible for immigration enforcement.

U.S. Marshals Service

The federal agency that negotiated the intergovernmental services agreement between Orange County and ICE.

Xiomary Rivera

A local hospitality union representative and U.S. citizen who has been racially profiled by law enforcement.

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What they’re saying

“This isn't just … hurting undocumented people, it's hurting entire communities.”

— Xiomary Rivera, Hospitality union representative

“The fight is not over. At the end of the day, we want to be in a position where, if we go into litigation, we win.”

— Jerry Demings, Orange County Mayor

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.