Federal Judge Temporarily Halts Florida Immigration Law

A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked Florida officials from enforcing a new immigration law that criminalizes certain unauthorized entries and reentries into the state, ruling that the statute likely intrudes on the federal government’s exclusive authority over immigration.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams issued a temporary restraining order halting implementation of Senate Bill 4-C, which took effect on Feb. 13 and was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis following a special session.

The law makes it a first-degree misdemeanor, subject to a mandatory minimum of nine months’ imprisonment, for an unauthorized adult noncitizen to knowingly enter or attempt to enter Florida after entering the United States unlawfully by avoiding inspection, with repeat offenses carrying felony charges with enhanced sentencing. A separate provision classifies as a third-degree felony any reentry, attempt to reenter, or presence in the state by an unauthorized adult noncitizen who has previously been denied admission, excluded, deported, removed, or who left the country while under a removal order.

https://thecapitolist.com/federal-judge-temporarily-halts-florida-immigration-law/