{"id":266424,"date":"2026-05-11T10:37:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T10:37:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/266424\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T10:37:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T10:37:24","slug":"uncle-lou-in-orange-county-jail-under-ice-hold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/266424\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Uncle Lou’ in Orange County jail under ICE hold"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Uncle Lou Credit: Rob Bartlett<\/p>\n

Cleon Ortille Williams, better known as Uncle Lou of the longtime Mills 50 music venue Uncle Lou\u2019s, is currently in Orange County jail under an immigration hold with no criminal charges.<\/p>\n

Williams was booked into Orange County Corrections Facility Saturday night, according to the department.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

A planned metal show on Saturday night at Lou\u2019s was abruptly moved to Grumpy\u2019s next door that same day. Video currently being shared on social media<\/a> shows Williams being taken into custody at Lou\u2019s, with what appears to be ICE agents telling patrons to leave the bar.<\/p>\n

Orlando Rep. Anna V. Eskamani shared on social media<\/a> Sunday morning that \u201cFull transparency that I am trying to learn more but as of last night Uncle Lou (@louslmga) is in the Orange County Jail with no criminal charges and an ICE hold. This likely means he will be transported to an ICE facility soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Screenshot Credit: Screenshot via Orange Country Corrections<\/p>\n

The underground music venue and bar Uncle Lou\u2019s has served as an incubator and proving ground for local and touring bands and performers for nearly two decades. The intimate Mills 50 mainstay may be a relatively stripped-down space, but the PA is loud and there\u2019s always someone new to hear. It\u2019s this good-natured \u201canything goes\u201d spirit, personified by Williams, that has defined Uncle Lou\u2019s and boosted the louder sectors of Orlando music for years.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a seemingly endless sea of vacuous sterile concrete nothing, Uncle Lou and his Entertainment Hall has always provided a haven for us Central Florida creatives to fail better. I\u2019m gutted, but resolved to join the community in fighting this any and every way we can,\u201d Brian Costello of Future Bartenderz, a regular performer and attendee at Uncle Lou\u2019s shows, told Orlando Weekly.<\/p>\n

At the time of publication, further information on Williams\u2019 status in unavailable, though there will be fundraising efforts in the very near future.<\/p>\n

Update 7 p.m.: \u201cI just met with Lou. No immigration attorney has been in touch yet,\u201d posted local workers\u2019 compensation attorney Andy Hess on social media (and reiterated to OW) Sunday. \u201cHe wants everyone to know he loves you all so much. He desperately wants to stay here. The community means everything to him. Orlando changed his life. We need an immigration attorney to act before he is transferred, which is likely tomorrow [Monday]\u201d<\/p>\n

Additionally Rep. Maxwell Frost has made content with Williams\u2019 family and is working with Rep, Eskamani to get more information on Williams\u2019 status.<\/p>\n

This is a developing story. We will add more information as\/when we are able.<\/p>\n

Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n

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