In yet another example of judicial activism colliding with state sovereignty, a federal judge has ruled that Florida police must stop enforcing state immigration law, even as the state tries to protect its communities from the chaos at the border.
This week, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams expanded her earlier ruling, declaring that all local law enforcement in Florida is now blocked from enforcing a key state statute targeting illegal immigration. The law—backed by Governor Ron DeSantis and signed into law in February—was part of a broader effort aligned with President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
The law in question made it a misdemeanor offense for individuals to enter Florida illegally by avoiding federal immigration authorities. It was designed to help local police detain illegal immigrants who slip through federal cracks—something many law enforcement agencies have asked for amid rising crime and chaos tied to illegal migration.
But Judge Williams took a hard stance. Not only did she strike down enforcement of the law statewide, she publicly scolded Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier for telling officers they weren’t obligated to follow her earlier order.
“What I am offended by is someone suggesting you don’t have to follow my order, that it’s not legitimate,” Williams said during a hearing in Miami.
Williams also told attorneys that she was planning to issue a preliminary injunction, effectively freezing enforcement of the law as legal battles continue.
Earlier this month, Judge Williams issued a temporary restraining order after complaints were filed about the state’s new law. Since then, the situation has only escalated. Authorities reportedly arrested 15 individuals, including one U.S. citizen born in Georgia, while trying to enforce the law.
This triggered Williams to extend the order another 11 days, making it even more difficult for police to do their job when it comes to protecting communities from illegal immigration-related crime.
Ironically, Attorney General Uthmeier initially told local police not to enforce the law, even though he strongly disagreed with the judge’s position. However, after facing blowback, he clarified in a follow-up memo that he believed the judge’s ruling had no legal standing—a move that sparked further tension in court.
Governor DeSantis’s immigration law was never about politics—it was about restoring order and safety to a state that, like many others, is seeing the real impact of an open-border crisis. The legislation was written to back law enforcement, crack down on those entering illegally, and send a message that Florida will no longer be a sanctuary for lawbreakers.
This federal ruling now ties the hands of local officers, leaving them unable to act—even when they see suspicious or illegal activity firsthand.
While the Biden administration has scaled back immigration enforcement, DeSantis and Trump have been clear: States have the right to defend their borders when Washington fails to do so. But with this latest ruling, that power is being undermined by federal judges who seem more concerned about technicalities than public safety.
As the border crisis continues, Floridians—and all Americans—are watching closely. The people want laws that protect them, not judges who block states from acting. And with President Trump and leaders like Governor DeSantis pushing back, this legal battle is far from over.
