JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan issued a statement Friday after her comments on a London radio show this week about Former President Donald Trump's immigration policies were followed by local and national criticism.
Deegan spoke on Times Radio this week about Trump's immigration policy, saying "To put people in what would really amount to a concentration camp-type situation to round them out of the country, doesn't seem to me to be a very American thing to do."
The mayor's comments quickly were heard across the world, and spawned mixed responses from political leaders and pundits.
One Jacksonville-area leader to respond was Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, who released a statement Wednesday calling the comments "shocking and reckless" by equating "a commonsense immigration policy with one of the most horrific atrocities of the 20th Century."
Councilmember Rory Diamond, wanting the Mayor to apologize for her comments, called them disturbing, saying "nobody likes that kind of language."
In a post on X Wednesday, Councilmember Jimmy Peluso said, "It's fake outrage day in Jax!" Peluso said the mayor "answered a question truthfully" and former President Trump's "immigration plan feels like Japanese internment."
Deegan said Friday that she "regret[s] that my choice of words may have caused anyone pain."
"Anyone who knows me, has listened to me speak, or watched my actions, knows I would never diminish the unique awfulness and horror that was the Holocaust. That was not my intention."
Deegan added that she has "no regret about calling out the inhumanity of treating immigrants, or any person, as less than human."
Deegan's full statement:
"Anyone who knows me, has listened to me speak, or watched my actions, knows I would never diminish the unique awfulness and horror that was the Holocaust. That was not my intention. I regret that my choice of words may have caused anyone pain.
However, I have no regret about calling out the inhumanity of treating immigrants, or any person, as less than human. The inevitable human rights violations that would result from rounding up people for mass deportation is unthinkable and un-American. I work hard every day to build unity in our city and I want the same for our country.
Let’s take this opportunity to learn from each other and continue to build a city where everyone is valued, seen and heard.”