Gainesville Activists Protest ICE
Gainesville activists organized by the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) held a protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) yesterday.
Protesters gathered on the sidewalk in front of the Clerk of Court office, with some going across the street.
The demonstration coincided with protests taking place nationally and the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration.
Activists referenced the ongoing protests in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Renee Good, who was killed by ICE Agent Jonathan Ross.
The protest didn’t move beyond public sidewalks, and there wasn't any formations of police or counter-protesters.
Similarly to Minnesota activists, Gainesville activists called for a general strike.
The protest comes soon after a demonstration calling for an end to the Baker County Detention Center.
Within Alachua County, ICE largely conducts their operations with assistance from the 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement to conduct immigration enforcement.
Nearly every law enforcement agency in Alachua County has signed the 287(g) agreement, which includes the Santa Fe College Police Department (SFPD), the University of Florida (UF) Police Department (UFPD), the High Springs Police Department (HSPD), the Alachua Police Department (APD), and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO). The Gainesville Police Department (GPD) remains the only agency in the county to not sign the agreement.
According to Florida State Board of Immigration data, HSPD, APD, UFPD and SFPD have not made contact with any suspected unauthorized immigrants.
The data shows that from August 1, 2025, to date, ACSO has made contact with 32 suspected unauthorized immigrants. Out of the 32 encounters, 20 resulted in arrests, ten being on local charges and the other ten on federal immigration charges. The data appears to regard encounters deputies have had in the field, and likely doesn’t count individuals booked into the ACSO Jail on ICE detainers, or the number would be much higher. Jail booking log data shows dozens more were booked into the ACSO Jail on ICE detainers throughout 2025. Many of the arrests were made by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).
Police reports show ACSO has assisted FHP in ICE operations.
In one incident dating back to September, ACSO Deputy Michael Altman physically assisted FHP Trooper David Hughes in detaining a man who ran away while they were “waiting on the ICE KROME call center to verify his identity as status,” the police report states.
In another incident dating back to November, an unnamed ACSO deputy reportedly told FHP Trooper Douglass Crandall that a woman didn’t have a license and was “not from here” after she was involved in a car accident. The woman in question was released on a $150 bond and later received a withheld adjudication for driving without a valid license after willingly appearing in court.
Local activists plan to hold a walk-out protest at UF on Friday, which correlates with actions taking place in Minneapolis.
