Liberal Judge Sides With Illegals, Slaps Down Florida’s Immigration Law [WATCH]

A federal judge in Florida reiterated Tuesday that a court order halting enforcement of a newly enacted state immigration law applies to all local law enforcement agencies, directly contradicting recent guidance from the state’s attorney general.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, presiding in Miami, said during a court hearing that she would issue a preliminary injunction against the law, which makes it a misdemeanor for undocumented immigrants to enter Florida after evading federal immigration authorities.

The legislation, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in February, is part of a broader effort aligned with President Donald Trump’s agenda to curb illegal immigration at the state level.

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The judge’s comments came in response to a memo from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who had advised police departments and sheriffs’ offices that they were not required to comply with her earlier order. Williams expressed concern over the state’s actions.

“What I am offended by is someone suggesting you don’t have to follow my order, that it’s not legitimate,” Williams said in open court.

She described Uthmeier’s directive as “surprising and shocking.”

Judge Williams had first issued a temporary restraining order against the statute earlier in the month, but extended that order by another 11 days after learning that at least 15 individuals had been arrested under the law.

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Among those arrested was a U.S. citizen born in Georgia, raising further questions about how the law was being enforced and on whom it was being applied.

Following the extension of the restraining order, Uthmeier issued a memo to state and local law enforcement urging them to stop enforcing the statute, even as he made clear he disagreed with the court’s ruling.

However, five days later, he reversed course in a subsequent memo, arguing that Judge Williams had made a legal error and that local officers and deputies retained authority to continue enforcement.

The legal back-and-forth has highlighted the tension between state officials and the federal judiciary over immigration enforcement, especially as Republican-led states continue to adopt stricter immigration measures in support of President Trump’s national border security agenda.

Governor DeSantis’s administration has not publicly commented on the judge’s remarks, and it remains unclear whether state officials will formally challenge the preliminary injunction once it is issued. The law remains blocked as litigation continues.

The dispute reflects broader legal and political challenges surrounding immigration enforcement at the state level, particularly as courts weigh the balance between state sovereignty and federal authority in regulating immigration.

The next hearing in the case has not yet been scheduled, but Judge Williams indicated she would move quickly to formalize the preliminary injunction. Until then, enforcement of the law remains suspended statewide.

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