Florida's AG Fights Court Order on Immigration Law
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is standing against a federal judge who wants to stop the enforcement of a Florida immigration law. This law can charge illegal immigrants with a misdemeanor if they enter Florida and try to avoid federal officials.
The disagreement comes after a judge, appointed by former President Obama, claimed the law might be unconstitutional. This judge, Kathleen Williams, has told Florida law enforcement to stop enforcing this law while the court decides if it's legal or not.
"The judge wants me to approve an order stopping all state law enforcement from enforcing Florida’s immigration laws, even though they are not part of the lawsuit," Uthmeier told Fox News Digital. He believes that the judge is overstepping her powers and insists he won’t tell law enforcement to stop doing their jobs.
Standing Up for Parental Rights
Apart from immigration issues, Uthmeier has also started an Office of Parental Rights. This new office aims to support parents' rights in raising their children, which he calls a 'God-given right.'
Controversy Over State vs. Federal Authority
The ACLU of Florida is challenging the law, arguing that managing immigration should be handled by the federal government, not by states. Bacardi Jackson, from the ACLU, believes that Florida is using fear to turn being an immigrant into a crime.
Despite the controversy, Uthmeier asked the court to allow the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) to keep enforcing the law. He wrote that Florida has the right to help enforce federal immigration laws to protect its citizens.
Uthmeier also mentioned that he had informed Florida law enforcement agencies that they were not necessarily bound by Williams' order to stop enforcing the law. This led to Williams planning to issue a preliminary injunction against the law and expressing shock at Uthmeier's defiance.
Legal Tensions Continue
If Uthmeier has to appear in court, he might need the help of U.S. Marshal Greg Leljedal. The situation escalated after FHP was unexpectedly included in the court order, even though they weren’t originally part of the lawsuit.
A recent photo shows Uthmeier with Marshal Leljedal, highlighting their meeting amidst these legal battles.
This case shows the ongoing debate over who has the right to enforce immigration laws and how states can participate in matters usually handled by the federal government.