TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A federal judge has ruled that Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is in civil contempt of court for sending a letter that contradicted a temporary restraining order halting the enforcement of a contentious immigration law targeting undocumented immigrants.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams determined that Uthmeier violated her directive, which prohibited police agencies from enforcing the new law, established during a special legislative session in February. The law, known as SB 4-C, criminalizes the entry or re-entry of undocumented immigrants into Florida.
Williams issued the temporary restraining order on April 4, later extending it on April 18. She instructed Uthmeier to inform law enforcement agencies that they were barred from enforcing this law after reports surfaced indicating arrests had been made. While Uthmeier did send a notification on April 18, he followed it with a letter on April 23 that sparked the contempt proceedings.
In her 27-page decision, Williams noted that Uthmeier’s actions undermined her court order. “Uthmeier’s position gives him a unique ability to uphold or derail the rule of law,” she stated. She stressed the importance of ensuring compliance with judicial directives for the integrity of the legal system.
Uthmeier argued that both the temporary restraining order and a later issued preliminary injunction should solely apply to him and local state attorneys, as they were the named defendants in the immigration law’s legal challenge. However, the judge sharply criticized Uthmeier’s April 23 letter, which suggested that law enforcement could disregard her order due to lack of a judicial mandate directly limiting their actions.
In her ruling, Williams stated that Uthmeier’s wording suggested that police agencies should feel free to overlook the April 18 directive, creating confusion about the court’s order. The judge had previously instructed Uthmeier to demonstrate why he should not be held in contempt regarding his correspondence to law enforcement.
Uthmeier’s attorneys contended he had adequately adhered to the temporary restraining order by ceasing to enforce the law and by alerting law enforcement about the restraining order. They argued that he was entitled to express his disagreement with Williams’ decision in his April 23 letter.
Williams, however, pointed out public comments from Uthmeier asserting he would not require law enforcement to adhere to the court order. She emphasized that while he is permitted to criticize her rulings, he must respect the authority of court orders. “When instructed to inform law enforcement not to enforce a law that has been enjoined, he cannot suggest otherwise,” Williams stated.
To enforce her contempt ruling, Williams has mandated that Uthmeier provide bi-weekly updates regarding any law enforcement actions taken concerning the halted law. So far, she noted, there have been no recorded arrests or detentions since the April 18 order was issued.
The lawsuit against the immigration law was filed by the Florida Immigrant Coalition, the Farmworker Association of Florida, and two individual plaintiffs who argue that the law violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which designates immigration enforcement as a federal responsibility.
Williams indicated in her preliminary injunction that the state law likely conflicts with federal immigration authority, particularly highlighting provisions that could lead to incarceration for violators. Advocates of the law, including Governor Ron DeSantis, have maintained that it supports the immigration policies of former President Donald Trump. DeSantis appointed Uthmeier as attorney general earlier this year, following his role as chief of staff to the governor.
Uthmeier is currently appealing the preliminary injunction to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where the case is still active.
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