Florida – Civil Rights Groups Sue Over New Immigration Law

Several civil rights groups filed a federal lawsuit on Monday challenging Florida’s new immigration law.

According to court records, the lawsuit was filed in Miami federal court against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis by the Southern Poverty Law Center, American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Florida, Americans for Immigrant Justice and the American Immigration Council. The motion was filed by Attorney General Ashley Moody and Statewide Prosecutor Nicholas B. Cox challenging the legislation that Republican Governor DeSantis signed into law in May that pushes his migrant relocation program and limits social ser- vices for immigrants without permanent legal status.

Hospitals are also required to include a citizenship question on intake forms. Businesses with more than 25 staffers must use the E-Verify federal system to prove that their employees can legally work in the US.

The complaint states it is unconstitutional for a state to unilaterally regulate federal immigration and subject people to criminal punishment without fair notice. It also asserts Florida’s use of the term “inspection” is incoherent and unconstitutionally vague.