Organizations ask judge to block SB 1718 against immigrants in Florida
Civil rights advocates asked a judge to block SB 1718 against immigrants in Florida, stating that it criminalizes people, is vague in its terms, and is unconstitutional.
As part of their legal action against SB 1718, several civil rights and immigrant rights organizations asked the judge to block the application of this law against immigrants in Florida.
“In their motion, the plaintiffs ask the court to block Section 10 in its entirety because it is an unconstitutional state law that regulates federal immigration and is unconstitutionally vague,” the plaintiffs said in a statement.
Section 10 of SB 1718 relates to the transportation of undocumented immigrants, which could result in those who transport them being detained and charged with human smuggling.
IMMIGRATION OPINION
Organizations ask judge to block SB 1718 against immigrants in Florida
Civil rights advocates asked a judge to block SB 1718 against immigrants in Florida, stating that it criminalizes people, is vague in its terms and unconstitutional.
As part of their legal suit against SB 1718, several civil and immigrant rights organizations asked the judge to block the application of that law against immigrants in Florida.
“In their motion, the plaintiffs ask the court to block Section 10 in its entirety because it is an unconstitutional state law that regulates federal immigration and is unconstitutionally vague,” the plaintiffs said in a statement.
Section 10 of SB 1718 is related to the transportation of undocumented immigrants, which could result in those who transport them being detained and charged with human smuggling.
“Section 10 has placed thousands of Floridians and out-of-state residents, both citizens and non-citizens, at risk of being arrested, charged and prosecuted for a felony, for transporting a vaguely defined category of immigrants into Florida, even for simple acts such as driving a family member to a doctor’s appointment or on a family vacation,” the advocates warn. “It is imperative that the court prevent this unconstitutional law from causing irreparable harm to plaintiffs and countless other families, organizations, and communities.”
The motion was filed Tuesday by the Southern Poverty Law Center, American Civil Liberties Union or ACLU of Florida, Americans for Immigrant Justice and American Immigration Council.
The lawsuit was filed on July 17, the groups described how Section 10 of SB 1718 criminalizes the transportation of people into Florida, and that there are inaccuracies in the definitions of “immigrants not inspected” by the federal government since their entry into the U.S.
“The lawsuit alleges that it is unconstitutional for a state to unilaterally regulate federal immigration and subject people to criminal punishment without fair notice,” the plaintiffs say. “It also asserted that Florida’s use of the term ‘inspection’ is inconsistent and unconstitutionally vague.”
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Florida Farmworkers Association and several affected individuals, including U.S. citizens and undocumented drivers and passengers who routinely travel in and out of Florida.
The lawsuit is against Governor Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Florida State Attorney Nicholas B. Cox and the state attorney general’s offices for Florida’s 20 judicial circuits.