A federal judge in Miami found Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in contempt of court after he defied an order blocking a controversial state immigration law. Despite a February ruling halting enforcement of the law criminalizing undocumented entry into Florida, Uthmeier instructed law enforcement to proceed with arrests, arguing the order lacked specific agency direction.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams condemned his actions as a deliberate misrepresentation of her order and emphasized the need for fidelity to the rule of law. Quoting Through the Looking-Glass, she criticized Uthmeier’s interpretation of legal language and ordered bi-weekly reports on any further arrests made under the enjoined law.
Uthmeier, a staunch ally of Governor Ron DeSantis and supporter of Trump-era immigration policies, remained defiant, stating publicly he would not comply. His tweet following the contempt ruling reaffirmed his position: “If being held in contempt is what it costs to defend the rule of law and stand firmly behind President Trump’s agenda on illegal immigration, so be it.”
Judge Williams and a federal appeals court have both expressed skepticism about the law’s constitutionality, suggesting it is unlikely to survive legal scrutiny.