Florida officials ask Supreme Court to allow the state to enforce strict new immigration law

Washington — Florida officials asked the Supreme Court on Monday to allow the state to enforce a new immigration law that makes it a crime for people in the United States unlawfully to enter Florida. 

In an emergency appeal to the high court, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier asked the justices to put on hold a federal judge's decision preventing law enforcement officers from enforcing the new law, known as SB 4-C. The judge, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, ruled that the measure is likely unconstitutional.

A federal appeals court in Atlanta declined to halt Williams' order and is allowing the law to take effect while legal proceedings continue.