A federal court has temporarily blocked Section 10 of Florida's Senate Bill 1718, a law criticized for its anti-immigrant stance. The decision came after advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ACLU of Florida, Americans for Immigrant Justice, American Immigration Council, and the Southern Poverty Law Center sought a preliminary injunction on behalf of the Farmworker Association of Florida and other affected individuals.
Section 10 has been contentious due to its implications for both citizens and noncitizens who could face felony charges for transporting certain immigrants into Florida. This includes everyday activities like driving family members to appointments or going on vacations.
In December, during a federal court hearing, these organizations argued that Section 10 unconstitutionally involved the state in immigration enforcement. They requested that the court prevent the law from causing harm to families and communities.
Anne Janet Hernandez from the Southern Poverty Law Center expressed satisfaction with the court's decision: “We are pleased with the court’s decision to temporarily block implementation of SB 1718’s transport provision until our lawsuit is resolved.”
Spencer Amdur from ACLU's Immigrants’ Rights Project commented: “The court was right to block this callous and patently unconstitutional law.”
Amien Kacou from ACLU of Florida noted: “This is a much-needed win for Floridians... We salute the courage of the individual and organizational plaintiffs who will continue to pursue this litigation.”
Evelyn Wiese from Americans for Immigrant Justice remarked: “Today’s decision marks an important victory... we will continue to fight against it.”
Emma Winger from American Immigration Council added: “This ruling means freedom from fear and increased safety for families and communities of color in Florida.”
The ruling can be accessed online.