Farmworkers and civil rights groups are suing the state of Florida restrictive immigration law are praising his actions to temporarily block the execution of a federal judge who criminalized the transportation of undocumented people into the state.
US District Judge Roy Altman, appointed by Republican former President Donald Trump, He blocked part of the law on Wednesday A lawsuit filed last summer by the Florida Farm Workers Association and other immigrant and civil rights groups is pending.
“This is a much-needed win for Floridians. For too long, our state has had too many anti-immigration laws and policies that harm citizens and non-citizens alike,” said Amien Kacou of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, part of a legal group that represents farmworkers. The association said in the lawsuit. statement after the decision.
Florida’s draconian immigration law known as SB 1718 was signed a year ago by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis he was now preparing to launch a failed presidential campaign. At that time, he made immigration a central theme of his campaign.
The law will come into force on July 1, 2023 imposes restrictions and penalties meant for prevent the employment of undocumented workers in the state and considers it a crime”knowingly and knowingly” to transport an undocumented immigrant to Florida.
In announcing the lawsuit last August, the ACLU said, “The section has put tens of thousands of Floridians and residents of other states — both citizens and noncitizens — at risk of being arrested, charged, and prosecuted for carrying an ill-defined category of .immigrants to Florida, even for simple acts like taking a family member to a doctor’s appointment or going on a family vacation.
The law forced many undocumented workers Agricultureto the construction and tourism industries moving from florida, and left many others are uncertain whether to leave the state.
Even inoculated Fears of immigrant communities worried the law would limit their ability to seek asylum During Hurricane Idalia last August.
Previous implementation of the law resulted in arrests and charges of human trafficking.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, the defendant in the lawsuit, argued in court filings that the plaintiffs lack legal standing to bring the case. The Miami Herald reported on this.
But Judge Altman said Florida’s law “exceeds the state’s authority to make arrests for violations of federal immigration law,” making it invalid. This was reported by Reuters.
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