Eskamani was one of the many county and state officials and local organization leaders who spoke at the press conference, organized by District 5 Orange County Commissioner Kelly Martinez Semrad, PhD, lambasting the heavy-handed tactics of the DeSantis administration.

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“I look at all the resources around me, and I think to myself, Wow, we could really put all of this brain power and all of this energy to solving the issues that so many Floridians are facing, like the rising cost of housing, like property insurance. But instead, once again, we have to fight back against political theater from a governor who is desperately trying to remain relevant in his lame-duck era,” said State Rep. Rita Harris, who represents District 44.

On the commissioners’ meeting agenda was the vote to ratify the addendum to the county’s agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for correctional officers to transport detainees to federal facilities throughout the state.

Until last week, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings had resisted signing the transportation addendum to the county’s Warrant Service Officer Program, which originally gave Orange County corrections officers the authority to aid ICE officers at the county jail. In an emailed statement last month, Demings told VoxPopuli that the county did not have the resources and that transporting detainees was the “responsibility of the federal government.”

Then Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier threatened Demings and the six county commissioners with removal from the commission by the governor if the addendum was not signed.

“Make sure you focus on that word: forced,” said District 1 Orange County Commissioner Nicole Wilson, speaking at the press conference. “Forced, under duress, under extreme duress. You don’t have to be a contracts attorney to know that 'under extreme duress' does not make a valid contract.”

A source with knowledge of the situation told VoxPopuli that the entire commission was within 30 minutes of being removed when Demings signed the addendum Friday.

“ Never in my life did I think in the United States of America that I would be told You can vote yes. You can vote no. You can abstain. But if you don't vote the way I tell you, I will remove you from office,” Semrad said during the press conference.

“The state is pressuring every commissioner and mayor to vote in favor of amending 287(g) agreement, a change that would force Orange County corrections officers to transport ICE detainees nearly 500 miles round-trip to Alligator Alcatraz,” Semrad continued.

“If we vote no, the attorney general says we are not putting our 'best effort' forward to implement a federal immigration program, and thus we are declaring Orange County a 'sanctuary county,' she said. "Let me be very clear: Sanctuary counties and cities are illegal in the state of Florida. Orange County has never violated immigration enforcement of law. This threat is political coercion, plain and simple.”

Semrad added that Orange County has not yet been reimbursed by the state for the $57/day deficit it incurs to care for each detainee in the jail, which is about 25 percent understaffed, and that corrections officers are already working mandatory overtime.

"So, is my 'best effort' as a county commissioner to protect our public safety from jail breaks and to stand up for our corrections officers’ safety as well as for fiscal responsibility of our taxpayer dollars?” she asked. “Or is my 'best effort' to enforce a federal immigration program that puts both of these at risk?”

The commission later voted 5-2 to ratify the addendum with Semrad and Wilson voting no. While the addendum passed, there is concern within the county administration that their no votes may yet cost them their seats if DeSantis decides to be vindictive, according to an unnamed source who is not authorized to speak to the media.

Wilson told VoxPopuli on Thursday that she is too busy doing her job to think about whether DeSantis might remove her from her job.

“I’m concerned about the Democratic process. I’m concerned for the integrity of our elections, but I’m not concerned personally because I ran for office as an act of service. It’s not my primary career,” Wilson said in a phone interview. “If I’m removed, I will continue to serve my community and figure out another way to do it and fight for democracy.”