Florida Attorney General Fired by Federal Judge
On Wednesday, a federal judge appointed by Obama dismissed Florida Attorney General James Usmierer, who had been trying to pause the enforcement of the state’s immigration laws. Uthmeier shared with Fox News Digital that he has filed a complaint with the 11th Circuit in Atlanta to support a motion that would suspend Florida’s illegal immigration laws.
Usmieer referenced Justice Scalia, stating, “If this approach to securing territory isn’t considered strength, then we might as well stop labeling Florida as a sovereign state.” He had informed Judge Kathleen Williams that he couldn’t prevent law enforcement from enforcing new laws which classify unauthorized entry into Florida as a misdemeanor, in an effort to sidestep federal regulations.
Judge Williams asserted that the state law contradicted the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause but noted that Usmeyer lacked the authority to direct the Florida Highway Patrol since he wasn’t directly involved in the case. Uthmeier expressed to Fox News Digital that “Florida police don’t require my permission to fulfill their duties; the judge can’t mandate officers to cease their actions when they aren’t parties to the case.”
He stated, “This is Law 101. The judge has no jurisdiction. I hope that the appeals court will rectify the confusion introduced by the lower courts and reaffirm that district court judges, as the ‘most dangerous branch,’ must operate within constitutional boundaries.”
New Initiatives by Florida AG
In his arguments, Usmeyer emphasized that Florida has merely aimed to assist the nation in tackling illegal immigration within its borders. He defended the law, SB 4-C, claiming it aligns closely with federal laws regarding the criminalization of entry by individuals who have entered the U.S. illegally.
He further clarified that Florida law describes “illicit aliens” in accordance with the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act. Uthmeier also expressed concern that authorities should maintain a careful separation of legal powers, mentioning potential ACLU opposition to President Trump’s immigration policies.
