Legal organizations have filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to block Section 10 of Florida's Senate Bill 1718, which they describe as an anti-immigrant law. The Southern Poverty Law Center, American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Florida, Americans for Immigrant Justice, and American Immigration Council are challenging the law in court.
The lawsuit, initiated on July 17, argues that Section 10 criminalizes transporting individuals into Florida who may have entered the country unlawfully and have not been inspected by federal authorities. The plaintiffs claim it is unconstitutional for a state to regulate federal immigration unilaterally and subject people to criminal punishment without fair notice. They also argue that the term "inspection" used in the law is vague.
The case represents the Farmworker Association of Florida and various affected individuals against Governor Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Statewide Prosecutor Nicholas B. Cox, and other state legal offices.
Plaintiffs are requesting the court to block Section 10 entirely due to its alleged unconstitutional nature. They argue that it risks arresting citizens and noncitizens alike for transporting immigrants under unclear definitions.
A.J. Hernandez Anderson from the Southern Poverty Law Center stated: "Almost one million Floridians live in mixed-status immigrant families where undocumented parents, spouses and children share the same household as U.S. citizens and 'Lawful Permanent Residents.'"
Amien Kacou from ACLU of Florida commented: "SB 1718 has unjustly changed the landscape for what it means to live as an immigrant in Florida."
Evelyn Wiese from Americans for Immigrant Justice emphasized: "The Constitution could not be clearer: the sole authority to craft and implement immigration laws belongs to the federal government."
Emma Winger from American Immigration Council said: "Florida’s anti-immigrant law serves only to sow fear in our immigrant communities."
Spencer Amdur from ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project remarked: "This law’s only purpose is cruelty."
Nezahualcoyotl Xiuhtecutli from Farmworker Association of Florida added: "This law’s stated purpose is to instill fear in some of the most vulnerable groups in our country."