Florida’s officials have filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court to enforce a new immigration law, SB 4-C, which criminalizes the act of unlawfully entering the state by individuals who are in the U.S. without authorization.
Attorney General James Uthmeier submitted the request on Monday, arguing that a ruling from U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, which halts the law’s enforcement due to constitutional concerns, should be put on hold.
The matter has stirred significant debate, as the federal appeals court in Atlanta has allowed the law to take effect while legal proceedings unfold.
In his appeal to the Supreme Court, Uthmeier emphasized that the current injunction harms Florida’s citizens and undermines the state’s ability to safeguard them from illegal immigration’s adverse effects.
“Illegal immigration continues to wreak havoc in the state while that law cannot be enforced,” Uthmeier stated in his plea for intervention.
He further argued that without the Supreme Court’s action, Florida’s capability to address the challenges posed by illegal immigration will be hindered for years, as the litigation navigates through lower courts.
Judge Williams had issued a temporary restraining order against the law, ordering that law enforcement agencies across the state be notified of her injunction.
In a letter circulated by Uthmeier in April, he instructed law enforcement to comply with the judge’s orders, but later, he revised his guidance, suggesting that officers were not restrained from enforcing the law.
In response, Judge Williams found Uthmeier in civil contempt, reinforcing that litigants must adhere to the clear language of judicial orders.
“Litigants cannot change the plain meaning of words as it suits them,” she remarked.
Consequently, the judge mandated Uthmeier to submit biweekly reports on any law enforcement actions taken under the immigration law.
The legislation, passed earlier this year, aims to criminalize the entry or re-entry into Florida by individuals who avoid inspection by immigration officers.
Supporters in the state have claimed that the law aligns with federal immigration policy and seeks to assist the previous Trump administration in addressing illegal immigration.
Opposition has risen from various groups, including two undocumented migrants, the Florida Immigrant Coalition, and the Farmworker Association of Florida, which have sued Uthmeier and other state officials.
They argue that the law is preempted by federal statute and infringes upon constitutional rights.
In his defense, Uthmeier insisted that state lawmakers enacted the measure to combat significant issues affecting Florida residents and communities, describing it as a necessary action to protect the state’s sovereignty.
As this case unfolds, it captures the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement at both state and federal levels.
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