Forty people spoke against, and not one for, the proposed ICE detention center in Starke, Bradford County, Florida. They came from all across north Florida, from Tallahassee to St. Augustine. As Mary Bauer from Gainesville said, this is really a national issue.

Several of them brought up water and sewage issues such as in the WWALS letter to Bradford County of April 6.

Sheriff Gordon Brown claimed people who came to him were three to one for it.

Outside his bubble, four of five Bradford County Commissioners said that last meeting they asked for all options for the Douglas Building to be considered, that putting only the ICE option on the agenda the previous day, with the lease and operating requirements added only 24 hours before this meeting, was rushed, and they could not vote for it.

Tabled: Sheriff’s lease, for an ICE detention center, –Bradford County Commission, Thursday, April 16, 2026

The Sheriff first said “I’m done.”

Later he accused Chair Carolyn Spooner, “This is all on you!”

She accepted that, and tried to be conciliatory. He seemed molified, but we’ll see if it pops up again.

On the county’s own video, Public Comment starts at 01:26:40.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG6Jjr81Saw

The specific item starts at 2:26:14: “5. Sheriff’s Report A. Lease for Douglas Property for the purpose of a Temporary ICE Detainment Facility”

I didn’t see the Commissioners ever actually take a vote.

Looked to me like they were likely to table it. At 3:38:49 Commissioner Chris Dougherty moved to go forward with a lease with the Sheriff. But Chair Carolyn Spooner said she had not called for a motion.

She had already, at 3:34:17, said “I’m puzzled. I’m frustrated.” and “I was not expecting this to be on the agenda tonight because we are not prepared to do this.”

At 3:40:02 Commissioner Danny Riddick said that according to the minutes, in the last meeting, the whole board agreed “to allow our economic development people to move forward and bring us more options to the table.” That was last Tuesday. This Tuesday, none of this was on the agenda, and the County Manager said none of it was ready. Then either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, it was back on the agenda. “How can it be back on the agenda with only two days notice?” “No wonder the public doesn’t trust us!”

At 3:43:29 Commissioner Kenny Thompson said, “Let’s look at our options. We are getting rushed into something I can’t vote on, not at this time.”

At 3:43:45 Commissioner Diane Andrews said she supports ICE, but the system to round up people is messed up, and she does not support the location.

The Sheriff said “I’m done.”

Commissioner Dougherty said he heard from the County Manager that the other options would have to be put out for RFP, while the ICE lease would not. He wondered who pulled the ICE item from the agenda last time. Chair Spooner said she did.

At 3:47:52, Sheriff Gordon Smith said, “This item falls on you.”

Sheriff Gordon Smith 3:47:52: This item falls on you.

Well, I think it falls on all the Commissioners that they took the prudent action and did not get rushed into this ill-conceived plan.

This result was widely covered in the news.

Anna Alvarez, WCJB, Gainesville, April 17, 2026, text, video.

Chris Will, News4JAX, Jacksonville, April 17, 2026, video.

Mark J. Crawford, Bradford County Telegraph, April 21, 2026, County rejects lease for ICE detention center,

Bradford County Commissioners remain open to proposals for the use of the Douglas Building south of Starke after rejecting Sheriff Gordon Smith’s request to lease the property. Hours of discussion did not end in the sheriff’s favor April 16. Smith had proposed that the property be used to house up to 3,000 ICE-detained undocumented immigrants…

Press Release, Suwannee St. Johns Group, Florida Chapter, Sierra Club, April 16, 2026, Community Pushback Blocks ICE Detention Center Deal in Bradford County.

Starke, Bradford County, Fla. — April 16, 2026 — Strong community opposition helped halt progress on Agenda Item 5A at last evening’s Bradford County Commission meeting, as commissioners declined to advance a motion to move forward with leasing the Douglas property for use as a detention facility.

After extensive public comment highlighting legal, financial, environmental, and community concerns, a motion made by Commissioner Dougherty failed to gain support, signaling that the Board was not prepared to move forward with the proposal given unresolved risks and alternative uses.

Sarah Younger, SSJ Executive Committee member, urged commissioners to reconsider the lease, framing the issue clearly.

Sarah Younger 2:33:05: Are you protecting county property or giving it away too quickly.

“This comes down to a simple question: are you protecting County property—or giving it away too cheaply and too quickly?” Younger said….

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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Agenda

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