Florida Judge Orders State Immigration Penalties Remain Frozen

A Florida federal judge continued the freeze on the state’s state-based criminal penalties for migrants Friday, following a multi-hour hearing where labor advocates urged the court to toss the law.

The statute levies state criminal penalties against adult migrants who enter the country—and Florida—without approval from federal immigration officers. US District Court for the Southern District of Florida Judge Kathleen M. Williams maintained her temporary restraining order on the law while she weighed whether the state’s novel rules interfere with federal immigration regulation.

“Judge Williams clearly understands why this law is potentially unconstitutional” and “she was concerned to hear ...