‘The mission continues’: Gov. DeSantis undaunted by ruling against state immigration law

Gov. Ron DeSantis says the state will appeal a federal court ruling striking down Florida’s immigration law, contending it’s just the product of a “favorable forum.”

“Another day, another activist federal judge thought that the judiciary should be setting immigration policy rather than the elected officials,” DeSantis said.

The crux of the conflict: SB 4C, which proscribes penalties for illegal entry and illegal reentry, mandates imprisonment for being in Florida without being a legal immigrant and capital punishment for any such undocumented immigrant who commits capital crimes.

Judge Kathleen Williams, who was originally a Barack Obama appointee to the Southern District of Florida, questions its constitutionality, saying the law conflicts with the Supremacy Clause and the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Williams’ temporary restraining order temporarily halts the enforcement of the law. A hearing regarding a permanent injunction is slated for April 18.

DeSantis said this is just part of a familiar playbook.

“We see it all the time with these Judges all across America trying to throw sand in the gears of President (Donald) Trump’s lawful use of executive power. And then late Friday, we saw it here in Florida, where a liberal Judge in South Florida ruled that Florida’s laws against entering our state illegally are somehow not permissible under the federal Constitution.”

The Governor said he’s willing to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court and that the state will continue to aggressively enforce immigration law.

“We are not taking the pedal off the gas one bit when it comes to enforcing federal immigration laws,” DeSantis said.

“We have strong agreements with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). The mission continues. We are going to be willing partners with the federal government in making sure that the laws of our country with respect to illegal immigration are finally enforced in that people here illegally are sent back to their home country.”