Federal court temporarily blocks key provision of Florida anti-immigrant law

• SB-1718 temporarily blocked by federal court.
• The ACLU and other groups sued.
• What happens next?

A U.S. federal court has temporarily blocked the implementation of a controversial law in Florida that penalizes people for transporting undocumented migrants.

This suspension will remain until a lawsuit by civil rights groups, who deem it unconstitutional, is resolved.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida, one of the plaintiffs, announced the decision, saying that the court specifically blocked Section 10 of SB-1718.

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SB-1718 temporarily blocked by federal court

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Florida Farmworker Association (FWAF) and several affected individuals.

It states that this provision has put thousands of Floridians and residents of other states at risk of being arrested, charged and prosecuted for a felony for transporting undocumented migrants.

It points out that this makes acts as simple as driving a family member to a medical appointment or on a family vacation, illegal.

The law, pushed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, also requires hospitals to include questions about patients’ immigration status.

ACLU declares victory against anti-immigrant laws and policies

ACLU attorney Amien Kacou stated that today’s decision is a victory against the «barrage of anti-immigrant laws and policies» in Florida, which harm both citizens and non-citizens.

«This order recognizes the irreparable harm SB 1718 is causing immigrants, families, and their communities by unconstitutionally usurping the powers of the federal government to subject them to cruel criminal punishment without fair notice.»

Evelyn Wiese, litigation attorney at Americans for Immigrant Justice, said that the court recognized the damage caused by the measure.

The ruling on SB 1718 is «freedom from fear»

The attorney said that this law cannot currently be used «to criminalize our clients or the community at large for transporting family, friends, or coworkers.»

For Emma Winger, Deputy Legal Director at the American Immigration Council, this ruling means freedom from fear and greater security for minority families and communities in Florida.

«As states across the country are increasingly passing unjust and unconstitutional laws that target people because of their immigration status, it’s critical that our courts set a precedent for protecting these families at risk,» she said.

«This law is unconstitutional and puts our plaintiffs, FWAF members, and the immigrant community at risk of arrest, prosecution, mandatory detention, and family separation,» said Anne Janet Hernandez, attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center, another plaintiff.