Latest news with #11thU.S.CircuitCourtofAppeals
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Supreme Court keeps hold on Florida immigration law aimed at people in the U.S. illegally
The Supreme Court on Wednesday (July 9, 2025) refused to allow Florida to enforce an immigration law making it a crime for people who are living in the U.S. illegally to enter the State. The High Court's action will keep the law on hold while a legal challenge continues. The court did not explain its decision and no Justice noted a dissent. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the legislation into law in February in support of Donald Trump's push to crack down on illegal immigration, though many of the Republican's President efforts have been mired in legal battles. Florida's law made it a misdemeanor for people to enter the State if they don't have legal status. The measure is similar to a Texas law that also has been blocked by a federal appeals court. Immigrants rights groups filed lawsuits on behalf of two unnamed, Florida-based immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, arguing that immigration is a federal issue beyond the power of the states. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier's appeal to the Supreme Court said the State has a right to use the law to protect itself from the 'irreparable harm' of illegal immigration. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams barred the enforcement of the new law in April. Mr. Uthmeier's office then unsuccessfully petitioned the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to override that decision. Wednesday's order is the latest blow for Mr. Uthmeier in a months-long battle. In June, Williams found the DeSantis appointee to be in contempt for instructing officers to continue enforcing the new law despite the Judge's orders to stop enforcement. 'If being held in contempt is what it costs to defend the rule of law and stand firmly behind President Trump's agenda on illegal immigration, so be it," Mr. Uthmeier said on social media. Mr. Uthmeier, who DeSantis tapped for the position in February, has also been credited for championing a new state-run immigration detention facility dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz." Environmental groups sued in June to block the facility from being built.
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Supreme Court keeps hold on Florida immigration law aimed at people in the US illegally
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to allow Florida to enforce an immigration law making it a crime for people who are living in the U.S. illegally to enter the state. The high court's action will keep the law on hold while a legal challenge continues. The court did not explain its decision and no justice noted a dissent. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the legislation into law in February in support of President Donald Trump's push to crack down on illegal immigration. Immigrants rights groups filed lawsuits on behalf of two unnamed, Florida-based immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, arguing that immigration is a federal issue beyond the power of the states. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams barred the enforcement of the new law in April. The attorney general's office then unsuccessfully petitioned the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to override that decision. The law is similar to a Texas law that also has been blocked by a federal appeals court. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Supreme Court keeps hold on Florida immigration law aimed at people in the US illegally
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to allow Florida to enforce an immigration law making it a crime for people who are living in the U.S. illegally to enter the state. The high court's action will keep the law on hold while a legal challenge continues. The court did not explain its decision and no justice noted a dissent. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the legislation into law in February in support of President Donald Trump's push to crack down on illegal immigration. Immigrants rights groups filed lawsuits on behalf of two unnamed, Florida-based immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, arguing that immigration is a federal issue beyond the power of the states. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams barred the enforcement of the new law in April. The attorney general's office then unsuccessfully petitioned the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to override that decision. The law is similar to a Texas law that also has been blocked by a federal appeals court.
Miami Herald
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
GOP attorneys general back Uthmeier at Supreme Court in case over immigration law
Republican leaders from 17 other states Tuesday filed a brief at the U.S. Supreme Court backing Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier's push to enforce a law targeting undocumented immigrants who enter Florida. The brief came after Uthmeier last week asked the Supreme Court to step in and at least temporarily allow enforcement of the state law after a federal district judge issued a preliminary injunction to block it. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in April ruled that the law likely was preempted by federal immigration authority. Uthmeier appealed the preliminary injunction, but a panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected his request for a stay of Williams' ruling. Uthmeier last week asked for the Supreme Court to issue a stay, which would effectively allow the state to enforce the law while the underlying legal battle plays out. Tuesday's friend-of-the-court brief, led by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird's office, disputed that federal immigration laws preempt — essentially take precedence over — measures such as the Florida law. The brief also pointed to Republican-led states trying to help enforce President Donald Trump's policies. 'Indeed, every act punishable under these state laws is already a federal crime,' the 16-page brief said. 'And under the current administration, states and the federal government have never worked so closely together on immigration enforcement.' The brief added, 'In issuing a pre-enforcement facial preliminary injunction of Florida's law, the district court incorrectly predicted that plaintiffs would likely be able to show that Florida's law conflicted with and was an obstacle to the federal government's enforcement discretion and policies.' Joining the brief were Republican attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas. Also, the Guam attorney general signed on. The law, passed during a February special legislative session, created state crimes for undocumented immigrants who enter or re-enter Florida. Attorneys for the Florida Immigrant Coalition, the Farmworker Association of Florida and two individual plaintiffs challenged the constitutionality of the law in April. After initially issuing a temporary restraining order, Williams issued a longer-lasting preliminary injunction to block enforcement. The three-judge panel of the Atlanta-based appeals court on June 6 refused to issue a stay of Williams' ruling. The panel said its decision 'does not definitively resolve' whether federal immigration law preempts the state law (SB 4-C), but it said Uthmeier had not met tests for a stay. 'It seems likely — given the federal government's longstanding and distinct interest in the exclusion and admission of aliens, and the (federal) Immigration and Nationality Act's extensive regulation of alien admission — that this principle is satisfied with respect to the field of alien entry into and presence in the United States,' said the decision shared by Judges Jill Pryor, Kevin Newsom and Embry Kidd. 'Accordingly, the attorney general has not made a 'strong showing' that the district court was wrong to conclude that SB 4-C is likely field preempted.' In asking the Supreme Court for a stay, Uthmeier's office last week argued that the state has been barred from enforcing the law amid the legal battle 'to the detriment of Florida's citizens and the state's sovereign prerogative to protect them from harm.' 'Illegal immigration continues to wreak havoc in the state while that law cannot be enforced,' the request said. 'And without this (Supreme) Court's intervention, Florida and its citizens will remain disabled from combatting the serious harms of illegal immigration for years as this litigation proceeds through the lower courts.' The plaintiffs face a July 2 deadline for filing a response to the request, according to a Supreme Court docket. The battle over the law has been highly contentious, with Williams last week finding Uthmeier in civil contempt. That finding stemmed from a letter that Uthmeier sent in April to police after she ordered a halt to enforcement of the law. Williams said Uthmeier violated a directive to notify police agencies that what was then a temporary restraining order barred them from enforcing the law. Uthmeier has contended Williams' rulings should only apply to him and local state attorneys, the named defendants in the case, and not to law-enforcement officers. Facebook
Miami Herald
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Florida's attorney general appeals immigration ruling to U.S. Supreme Court
After an appeals court rejected his arguments, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier last week asked the U.S. Supreme Court to step in and at least temporarily allow enforcement of a new law targeting undocumented immigrants who enter the state. Uthmeier's office filed a 34-page document seeking a stay of a preliminary injunction that U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams issued in April to block the law. A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on June 6 rejected such a stay. If the Supreme Court grants Uthmeier's request, the state could enforce the law while what could be a lengthy court battle plays out. 'Florida is enjoined from enforcing its statute to the detriment of Florida's citizens and the state's sovereign prerogative to protect them from harm,' lawyers in Uthmeier's office wrote in the document. 'Illegal immigration continues to wreak havoc in the state while that law cannot be enforced. And without this [Supreme] Court's intervention, Florida and its citizens will remain disabled from combatting the serious harms of illegal immigration for years as this litigation proceeds through the lower courts.' The request, filed last Tuesday, is the latest twist in a contentious fight about the law, which passed during a February special legislative session and was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The law created state crimes for undocumented immigrants who enter or re-enter Florida, with supporters saying it was aimed at helping carry out President Donald Trump's policies on preventing illegal immigration. Attorneys for the Florida Immigrant Coalition, the Farmworker Association of Florida and two individual plaintiffs filed the federal lawsuit in April, alleging the law is unconstitutional. After initially issuing a temporary restraining order, Williams issued a longer-lasting preliminary injunction to block enforcement. Williams ruled that the law was likely preempted by federal immigration authority. Uthmeier appealed that ruling and asked the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for a stay of the injunction but was turned down. The three-judge appellate panel said its decision 'does not definitively resolve' whether federal immigration law preempts — essentially takes precedence over — the state law, but it said Uthmeier had not met tests for a stay. 'It seems likely — given the federal government's longstanding and distinct interest in the exclusion and admission of aliens, and the [federal] Immigration and Nationality Act's extensive regulation of alien admission — that this principle is satisfied with respect to the field of alien entry into and presence in the United States,' said the June 6 decision shared by Judges Jill Pryor, Kevin Newsom and Embry Kidd. 'Accordingly, the attorney general has not made a 'strong showing' that the district court was wrong to conclude that SB 4-C is likely field preempted.' But in the document filed last week at the Supreme Court, Uthmeier's office disputed that the state law is preempted, saying it 'purposefully tracks federal law to a tee.' It also argued that the Supreme Court ultimately would side with Florida on the underlying issues in the dispute. 'The district court's injunction is indefensible both on the merits and in its sweeping breadth,' the state's attorneys wrote. 'Should the Eleventh Circuit nevertheless affirm (Williams' ruling), there is a strong likelihood that this (Supreme) Court will reverse.' The document also delved into a dispute between Uthmeier and Williams about whether the injunction should apply to law-enforcement officers across the state — a dispute that last week resulted in the judge finding Uthmeier in civil contempt. Uthmeier argued the injunction should only apply to him and local state attorneys, the named defendants in the lawsuit. But Williams also applied it to police agencies across the state, effectively ensuring the law is not enforced. While Uthmeier wants the Supreme Court to issue a stay on the entire injunction, last week's request also raised the possibility of the court issuing a partial stay so that the injunction would not apply to law-enforcement officers. 'Worse still, the district court bound all Florida law-enforcement officers, who are not parties to this case,' the state's attorneys wrote. 'That decision inflicts irreparable harm on Florida and its ability to protect its citizens from the deluge of illegal immigration.' The appeals-court panel declined to issue a partial stay that would have applied Williams' ruling only to Uthmeier and state attorneys. Williams' unusual contempt finding last week stemmed from a letter that Uthmeier sent in April to police after she ordered a halt to enforcement of the law. Williams said Uthmeier violated a directive to notify police agencies that what was then a temporary restraining order barred them from enforcing the law. 'Uthmeier's role endows him with a unique capacity to uphold or undermine the rule of law, and when he does the latter by violating a court order, the integrity of the legal system depends on his conduct being within the court's remedial reach,' Williams wrote in the 27-page contempt decision.
