Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has asked the Supreme Court to stay a federal judge’s order blocking Senate Bill 4-C, a law signed by Ron DeSantis that criminalizes undocumented presence in Florida. Uthmeier filed the emergency petition after the Eleventh Circuit denied a similar request earlier this month.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams had ruled that the law conflicts with federal immigration authority and issued a preliminary injunction. Uthmeier argues that SB 4-C does not mirror the 2012 Arizona v. United States case, which struck down a state’s attempt to enforce federal immigration law. Instead, he claims the Florida statute narrowly targets illegal re-entry into the state, aligning with federal law.
In his petition, Uthmeier wrote that the injunction “disables” Florida from protecting citizens against what he calls the harms of illegal immigration. He emphasized the state’s right to use its police powers to address community harm.
Uthmeier, recently appointed AG, was held in civil contempt last week for instructing law enforcement to continue enforcement despite the injunction, saying, “So be it,” if defending Donald Trump’s agenda results in contempt.
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