The US Supreme Court has maintained its judicial block on a Republican-crafted Florida law that makes it a crime for undocumented immigrants in the United States to enter the state. The justices denied a request by state officials to lift an order by a Florida-based US district judge Kathleen Williams, which barred them from carrying out arrests and prosecutions under the law while a legal challenge plays out.
The law, signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis in February, made it a felony for some undocumented migrants to enter Florida, with pre-trial jail time without bond. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued the state to challenge the law, arguing that it conflicted with federal authority over immigration policy.
US District Judge Williams ruled that the law was probably unconstitutional and imposed mandatory minimum sentences of nine months’ imprisonment for first offenders and up to five years for certain undocumented immigrants with felony records. The state’s request to block the judge’s order was backed by America First Legal, a conservative group.
The US Supreme Court’s denial reaffirms the principle that states cannot regulate immigration, according to Cody Wofsy, deputy director of the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project. “It is past time for states to get the message,” he said. Florida officials will need to appeal the decision in lower courts.
Other states have attempted to pass similar laws, including Texas and Oklahoma, which have also tried to make entering their jurisdictions a state crime for undocumented individuals. The US Supreme Court’s block of the Florida law provides a crucial victory for immigration advocates and reinforces federal authority over immigration policy.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/09/supreme-court-florida-law-immigration