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Florida AG Halts Arrests of Undocumented Migrants Following Court Ruling
In a significant development, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has directed state law enforcement officials to stop making arrests of undocumented immigrants in accordance with a recently enforced immigration law. This decision follows a strong rebuke from U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, who expressed her astonishment that state authorities continued to make arrests despite her existing restraining order.
The judge’s comments came during a court hearing last Friday, reinforcing her earlier directive to cease such actions. Uthmeier’s office has not yet provided a comment in response to this judicial admonition.
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During the initial day of the legislative session at the Florida State Capitol on March 4, 2025, Uthmeier, alongside former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, addressed various issues, including state immigration laws. Under Florida law, entering the state illegally is categorized as a misdemeanor.
In his communication to law enforcement, Uthmeier insisted on compliance with the court’s ruling, despite expressing his disagreement with it. This decision follows revelations from attorneys representing affected parties that law enforcement had executed 15 arrests in a two-week span, raising concerns about their legality.
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Among those arrested was 20-year-old Juan Carlos Lopez Gomez, who was apprehended by the Florida Highway Patrol near the Florida-Georgia border. He was later taken into custody by immigration officials. The circumstances of Gomez’s arrest, particularly whether he provided identification at the time of the incident, remain unclear. He was subsequently charged with illegal entry and held in the Leon County Jail while U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sought to maintain his custody for an additional 48 hours.
Fortunately for Gomez, he was released the following day after his mother provided essential documents proving his identity, including a birth certificate, Social Security card, and state identification card.
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been an active proponent of stringent immigration policies. On January 29, 2025, he hosted a round-table event at Florida Gulf Coast University to underscore his administration’s partnership with ICE and other federal agencies in tackling immigration enforcement.
A collaborative effort between local and federal agencies recently led to an operation where a suspected undocumented migrant’s vehicle was searched in St. Johns County following a traffic stop.
The legal confrontation surrounding the state’s immigration enforcement will continue, with the next hearing set for April 29, where the implications of the law and its enforcement will be further examined.
Both ICE and the Florida Immigrant Coalition have yet to respond to inquiries regarding this matter, highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in Florida.
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