Supreme Court Keeps Florida Immigration Law Blocked

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to allow Florida to enforce its controversial law criminalizing undocumented immigrants who enter or re-enter the state, maintaining a lower court's block as legal challenges continue. The law, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis and supported by the Trump administration and 17 states, created new state-level crimes and imposed mandatory minimum sentences. Immigrant rights groups argue that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, and lower courts have found the law likely unconstitutional for intruding on federal authority. The Supreme Court issued its decision in a brief order with no noted dissents, following similar judicial blocks in Texas and Oklahoma. Florida officials, now supported by the U.S. Department of Justice in ongoing appeals, contend the law complements federal statutes, but courts have disagreed. The case highlights ongoing conflicts between state and federal powers over immigration policy.