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Tallahassee, FL - Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate a blocked state law criminalizing illegal entry into Florida, despite being held in contempt for encouraging its enforcement against a federal judge’s order.
This request comes just days after Uthmeier was held in civil contempt by a federal judge for encouraging law enforcement to ignore a court order blocking the law’s enforcement.
Governor Ron DeSantis signed the measure in February as part of a broader push to clamp down on illegal immigration.
The law quickly faced lawsuits from civil rights groups who argued it violated the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution, which gives the federal government primary authority over immigration matters.
In April, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams issued an injunction halting the law, siding with the plaintiffs.
Uthmeier initially told officers to comply, but later said the judge’s order did not prohibit them from acting.
That reversal led to the contempt ruling, along with an order to provide updates on any future enforcement attempts.
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals declined to overturn the injunction, criticizing Uthmeier’s handling of the situation.
Now, Florida has taken the fight to the nation’s highest court, where Justice Clarence Thomas is reviewing the petition.
The outcome could set a precedent for how far states can go in regulating immigration within their borders.