Brade
A federal judge in Florida has reaffirmed that her order blocking local police from enforcing a controversial state immigration law applies to all local agencies, despite objections from Florida’s Attorney General. U.S. District Judge KATHLEEN WILLIAMS made the statement during a hearing in Miami on Tuesday, where she indicated her intent to issue a preliminary injunction against the statute. The law, which makes it a misdemeanor for undocumented migrants to enter Florida by evading immigration officials, was temporarily blocked earlier this month.
Judge WILLIAMS expressed dismay over Florida Attorney General JAMES UTHMEIER’s recent memo advising local police to disregard her order. “What I am offended by is someone suggesting you don’t have to follow my order, that it’s not legitimate,” she stated. Earlier this month, WILLIAMS issued a temporary restraining order against the law, which was signed by Governor RON DESANTIS in February as part of former President DONALD TRUMP’s immigration crackdown efforts.
The judge extended the restraining order after learning that authorities had arrested 15 individuals, including a U.S. citizen born in Georgia, under the statute. Following the extension, UTHMEIER initially instructed state and local law enforcement to halt enforcement of the law, despite his disagreement with the judge’s decision. However, five days later, he reversed course, asserting that the judge’s order was legally flawed and that local officers could not be prevented from enforcing the law.
No additional arrests have been reported since UTHMEIER’s second memo was issued. The ongoing legal battle highlights the tension between state and federal authorities over immigration enforcement in Florida.
Sources: [Fox News Digital](https://www.foxnews.com), [The Associated Press](https://www.apnews.com)
