As upcoming protests against ICE arrests are planned across the United States, a sheriff from Florida has issued a stern warning to demonstrators.
Recently, protests have been occurring in places like Los Angeles and other regions, with participants voicing their opposition to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdown on immigration.
Even the prominent TikTok influencer Khaby Lame left the US after being detained, highlighting the current focus on immigration and visa issues.
Demonstrations are expected to target President Donald Trump’s birthday parade this weekend in Washington, D.C. Protestors aim to express their disapproval of the arrests, and similar activities are anticipated in other states, including Florida.
In Brevard County, Sheriff Wayne Ivey has issued a strong warning stating that any violent actions by protestors will lead to severe repercussions.
During a press conference, he sternly stated that anyone who ‘throws a brick, a firebomb, or points a gun’ will face the full extent of the law.
He further elaborated: “If you block an intersection or a roadway in Brevard County, you are going to jail. If you flee arrest, you’re going to go to jail tired because we are going to run you down and put you in jail.”
Ivey also stated: “If you try to mob rule a car in Brevard County, gathering around it, refusing to let the driver leave in our county, you’re most likely going to get run over and dragged across the street.”
His warnings were not limited to these threats, as he added: “If you spit on us, you’re going to the hospital and then jail.
“If you hit one of us, you’re going to the hospital and jail, and most likely get bitten by one of our big, beautiful dogs we have here.
“If you throw a brick, a firebomb, or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains, because we will kill you, graveyard dead. We’re not going to play.”
Ivey is known for his outspoken remarks during press conferences. In 2021, after confiscating 700 pounds of cannabis, he quipped: “If you happened to have lost or misplaced approximately 770 pounds of high-grade marijuana and would like to have your property returned, please contact our Narcotics Agents and we will be more than happy to reunite you with your lost property!!”
However, his bold statements have also led to legal troubles. In 2023, a lawsuit was filed against him by a man who alleged that his life was adversely affected after Ivey included him in a ‘Wheel of Fugitive’ video posted on social media.
The man asserted that he was wrongly featured, which resulted in the loss of a potential job opportunity.