Fact Check: Uthmeier claims no lawful order prevents enforcement of Florida's immigration laws.

Fact Check: "Uthmeier claims no lawful order prevents enforcement of Florida's immigration laws."

What We Know

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has been found in contempt of court for violating a federal judge's order that temporarily blocks the enforcement of a new state law criminalizing undocumented immigrants entering Florida. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ruled that Uthmeier's actions, including a memo he sent to law enforcement stating that there was "no lawful, legitimate order" preventing them from enforcing the law, were in direct violation of her injunction (AP News, Miami Herald). The judge emphasized that litigants cannot alter the meaning of court orders to suit their arguments, underscoring the importance of fidelity to the rule of law (Law360, Miami Herald).

Uthmeier's initial compliance with the court's order was followed by a reversal in which he instructed law enforcement agencies that they were not bound by the injunction. This led to the contempt ruling, where Judge Williams noted that Uthmeier's conduct was "defiant" and that he failed to demonstrate a likelihood of success on appeal against her order (AP News, Florida Phoenix).

Analysis

The claim that "no lawful order prevents enforcement of Florida's immigration laws" is contradicted by the recent court ruling. Uthmeier's assertion was made in a context where a federal judge had explicitly issued an injunction against the enforcement of the law, citing constitutional concerns and the Supremacy Clause, which establishes that federal law takes precedence over state law (ACLU, Florida Phoenix).

The judge's contempt ruling indicates that Uthmeier's interpretation of the law was not only legally incorrect but also disregarded the authority of the federal court. His defense, which suggested that the judge's order was overly broad and thus not applicable to local law enforcement, was rejected by both the judge and an appellate court (Miami Herald, Law360). The appellate judges noted that while Uthmeier may have had concerns about the order's scope, this did not justify his noncompliance with it (Miami Herald).

Furthermore, the credibility of Uthmeier's claim is undermined by the legal context in which it was made. His position appears to be influenced by political motivations, as he has publicly aligned himself with former President Trump's immigration policies (AP News, Florida Phoenix). This raises questions about the impartiality of his statements regarding the legality of the court's orders.

Conclusion

The claim that "no lawful order prevents enforcement of Florida's immigration laws" is False. A federal judge has explicitly issued an injunction that prohibits the enforcement of the law in question, and Uthmeier's attempts to assert otherwise have been legally challenged and found to be in contempt of court. The ruling highlights the importance of adhering to judicial orders, regardless of personal or political beliefs.

Fact Check: Uthmeier claims no lawful order prevents enforcement of Florida's immigration laws.