Supreme Court Refuses To Reinstate Florida’s Immigration Law

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to reinstate a Florida law that would have allowed officials there to prosecute migrants who entered the state illegally.

The court did not explain its ruling, according to the New York Times, which also noted the absence of any dissenting opinions. The order was issued in response to an emergency application.

Florida’s immigration law, SB 4-C, criminalizes entering the state after illegally entering the U.S. and evading immigration authorities. Last year, the Supreme Court allowed a similar law in Texas to take effect.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, an Obama appointee, issued an indefinite injunction against the law, finding it likely preempted by federal immigration law and unconstitutional.

Florida appealed to the Supreme Court last month after a three-judge panel from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the injunction.

State Attorney General James Uthmeier argued in his appeal to the Supreme Court that the state’s new policy does not conflict with federal law.

It’s not clear why the high court allowed the similar Texas law to take effect but not the Florida statute.

“Florida carefully crafted both provisions to precisely track, mimic and depend upon federal immigration law,” he wrote, adding that a contrary view “strikes at the heart of states’ ability to protect their citizens from the devastating effects of illegal immigration.”

Meanwhile, Democratic leaders in other states are facing arrest for interfering in federal immigration operations.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security said on Monday that the agency would consider arresting Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass after she showed up and attempted to interfere with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers conducting raids in the city this week.

In an interview with guest host Charlie Hurt on Monday’s edition of “Hannity” on Fox News, DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said the department was keeping all options “on the table.”

“When you have scenes like you did out in L.A. today where you have the mayor, Karen Bass, interfering with official federal officer proceedings, trying to enforce the laws that are put on the books by members of members of Congress, are you all hesitant to go out and rest her or has all of this behavior not reach that threshold yet?” Hurt asked.

“We are keeping everything on the table, but I want to ask Karen Bass, who is she protecting? Is it the gang members we are going after, or the child, or the drug traffickers? Which of the violent criminals who are terrorizing Los Angeles streets is she trying to protect, because it is not American citizens or her own constituents?” McLaughlin responded.

“We know that in the past 150 days under President Trump and Secretary [Kristi] Noem, we’ve arrested almost 600 known or suspected terrorists,” McLaughlin continued, as well as “2,700 members of Tren de Aragua. And for viewers who are not familiar, they are a vicious, highly sophisticated gang who kills, rapes, and maims Americans for sport.”

She added: “They enrich themselves by sex trafficking young women. They have walked with impunity on America’s streets for four years, and under President Trump, no more.”

Meanwhile, Republicans are blaming Democrat actions and rhetoric for an uptick in violence directed at immigration enforcement agents and Border Patrol.

Taking that into account, the Trump administration has pledged a “zero tolerance” stance on violence targeting law enforcement following the shooting of a local police officer near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Texas on Friday.

“We are closely monitoring the attacks on DHS detention facilities in Prairieland, TX, and Portland, OR, and are coordinating with the USAOs and our law enforcement partners,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blance posted on Saturday to the social media site X.

“The Department has zero tolerance for assaults on federal officers or property and will bring the full weight of the law against those responsible,” he added.