Orlando is usually talking about new snacks, ride overlays, and what’s coming next to Walt Disney World. This week, the conversation took a sharp turn. Rumors of a possible ICE detention facility opening within Orlando city limits have sparked outrage, protests, and a lot of confusion, especially in a region that thrives on tourism and immigrant communities that power the theme park industry.
Related: ICE Arrives Near Disneyland, Runners Warned of Activity During Marathon Weekend
As Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity increases across Central Florida under the Trump administration’s mass deportation push, residents and workers alike have been asking the same question. Can the city stop this? On Monday, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer delivered an answer many people did not want to hear. No, it cannot.
Mayor Dyer Addresses Growing Community Fears
Mayor Dyer said the city has not been officially notified by ICE or the federal government about confirmed plans for a detention center. Still, after hearing from residents, activists, and community leaders, he asked the city attorney’s office to determine whether Orlando had any legal tools to intervene, per WESH.
“Although we have not been informed by the federal government about any potential plans, we have sought legal advice to understand if the city has any options to regulate or prevent a facility like this,” Dyer said in a statement released Monday.
According to that legal guidance, the city has no authority to regulate or block federal immigration enforcement activities.
“The city is unable to take action to limit or regulate any activity by the federal government,” Dyer said.
Why the City Says Its Hands Are Tied
The explanation came in a detailed legal opinion from Orlando City Attorney Mayanne Downs. The letter was released publicly and outlines why even zoning laws or temporary moratoriums would not apply to ICE.
“However well motivated these suggestions are, the law is very clear: ICE, as an agency of our federal government, ICE is immune from any local regulation that interferes in any way with its federal mandate,” Downs wrote.
Downs cited the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which establishes that federal law overrides state and local authority. She also pointed to previous Florida court cases that confirmed federal agencies are not subject to local zoning rules.
“In sum, we can take no action to limit or regulate any activity by the federal government in its action to enforce federal immigration law, and that is clear and not debatable under the law of the United States and Florida,” she wrote.
ICE Tour of Warehouse Raises Alarm Bells
The legal opinion came after ICE officials were seen touring a large warehouse facility in East Orange County earlier this month. The visit immediately set off alarms among local officials and residents who questioned whether the site was suitable for housing detainees.
News crews were present as David Venturella, a senior ICE advisor and former executive with private prison company GEO Group, inspected the building as part of ICE’s expansion of its detention system.
Orange County Commissioner Nicole Wilson was quick to voice concerns about both safety and humanity, per Click Orlando.
“This wasn’t built for human beings to be located in,” Wilson said earlier this month. “I think we can all agree about the humanitarian issues with loading docks being built with cots.”
Wilson also pointed out potential problems with waste disposal, traffic flow, and the surrounding corporate park, which includes other businesses operating heavy equipment.
“This is a logistical issue as much as it is a humanitarian issue,” she said.
Wilson is now proposing a temporary county moratorium, though city attorneys have warned that such an action may still conflict with federal law.
Protests, Arrests, and Rising Tensions
The detention center debate is unfolding as ICE activity continues to ramp up across Central Florida. That has led to protests, including one last week outside an ICE facility in Orlando that resulted in an arrest.
Deputies say a woman was taken into custody after she blocked a law enforcement vehicle with her body and struck it during a rally opposing ICE operations. The incident highlighted just how emotional and volatile the situation has become.
Mayor Dyer addressed those concerns directly, emphasizing Orlando’s values even as he acknowledged the city’s limitations.
“We remain committed to being a city that treats every person with dignity and respect,” Dyer said. “Immigrants are a valued part of our community and have helped to shape a stronger, more vibrant Orlando.”
Mayor Urges Residents to Take Fight to Washington
With no local legal path forward, Dyer urged residents to focus their efforts at the federal level.
“We encourage residents who are concerned about ICE actions to contact their representatives in Congress as Congress holds the power to oversee, fund and reform these activities,” he said.
For a city built on tourism, hospitality, and the millions of visitors who come to Walt Disney World each year, the issue hits close to home. Many of the workers who keep the parks, hotels, and restaurants running are immigrants who now feel increasingly targeted and afraid.
If you care about the future of Orlando, the people who make its magic possible, and the community that surrounds the theme parks, do not scroll past this. Call your members of Congress, show up to public meetings, and stay informed. This is not just a political story. It is an Orlando story.
