Florida AG appeals federal court's immigration law block

A federal judge in Florida issued a preliminary injunction blocking a new state law that created state crimes for undocumented immigrants who enter or re-enter Florida, ruling that the law was likely preempted by federal immigration authority and violated the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Judge Kathleen Williams argued that the law gave state officials authority to prosecute immigration offenses in situations where federal authorities might not, encroaching on federal jurisdiction. The Florida Immigrant Coalition and other plaintiffs had challenged the law, which was passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature in February to align with former President Trump's immigration policies. Despite an earlier temporary restraining order, arrests continued, prompting the judge to schedule a hearing to consider holding Attorney General James Uthmeier in contempt or sanctioning him. Uthmeier's office quickly appealed the ruling to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, though the state's arguments have not been detailed. The controversy centers on whether states can independently enforce immigration law, a power traditionally reserved for the federal government.