Florida Seeks Supreme Court Approval for Immigration Law

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow enforcement of SB 4-C, a state law criminalizing unlawful entry into Florida by individuals already living in the U.S. illegally. Governor Ron DeSantis signed the law, but U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams blocked it as likely unconstitutional and preempted by federal law, a decision upheld by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Uthmeier seeks emergency relief, arguing the statute is necessary for state protection and aligns with federal law. Judge Williams found Uthmeier in contempt for providing conflicting guidance to law enforcement on the injunction. Immigrant rights groups argue the law violates the Supremacy Clause, asserting immigration enforcement is federal jurisdiction. The Supreme Court’s ruling could set a precedent for state-led immigration policies.