Florida Defies Judge in Immigration Law Arrests

Florida law enforcement continued to arrest individuals, including U.S. citizen Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, under a new state immigration law despite a federal judge's order halting its enforcement. At least 15 arrests were made in apparent defiance of the court order, prompting U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams to extend the restraining order and warn that such actions could amount to false imprisonment. Lopez-Gomez, born in Georgia, was detained even after his mother presented proof of his citizenship and was held on an ICE request before being released. The situation has drawn national attention to due process concerns and the risk of U.S. citizens being wrongfully detained under aggressive immigration policies. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier directed law enforcement to comply with the judge's order, though he publicly disagreed with its reach. The controversy underscores ongoing tensions between state immigration initiatives, federal judicial authority, and civil rights protections.