MIAMI, FL — A federal court has granted a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of Florida Senate Bill 4-C (SB 4-C), an extreme anti-immigrant law that created new state crimes targeting immigrants entering and living in Florida.
The court ruled that the plaintiffs—including two individuals and two grassroots membership organizations, the Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC) and the Farmworker Association of Florida (FWAF)— are likely to succeed in showing that SB 4-C is unconstitutional. The court found the law likely violates the Supremacy Clause and the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution in that it encroaches upon an exclusively federal power to control immigration and the movement of interstate commerce.
“This ruling is a critical victory not only for immigrants and their families across Florida, but all of us who hold dear core principles of our Constitution,” said Bacardi Jackson, Executive Director of the ACLU of Florida. “The court’s order halts a dangerous and discriminatory law that sought to criminalize people for simply moving within the United States. Florida’s leaders may want to score political points by targeting immigrants, but the Constitution doesn’t allow it. We’ll continue fighting until SB 4-C is struck down permanently.”
SB 4-C created sweeping state crimes that made it a felony for certain immigrants to enter Florida and mandated jail time without bond. Plaintiffs argued that the law placed countless Floridians at risk of arrest and detention under an unconstitutional law.
“We applaud today’s ruling and are committed to putting a permanent end to S.B. 4-C.,” said Oscar Sarabia Roman, Staff Attorney at the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project. “S.B. 4-C is inhumane, damaging, and clearly unlawful under more than a century of Supreme Court precedent.”
“The Constitution makes clear that immigration enforcement is the role of the federal government, not state politicians,” said Amy Godshall, Legal Fellow and Immigrants’ Rights Attorney at the ACLU of Florida. “This law was a reckless power grab that endangered communities and violated the basic rights of people who call Florida home. The court’s order sends a strong message that Florida cannot bypass federal law to carry out its own anti-immigrant agenda.”
The court found that the plaintiffs demonstrated a strong likelihood of success on the merits, and that ongoing enforcement of the law would result in irreparable harm. The TRO temporarily blocks the state from enforcing SB 4-C and sets a hearing on April 18 to consider a permanent preliminary injunction.
“This law instilled fear in our communities and punished people for simply existing,” said Paul R. Chavez, Director of Litigation & Advocacy at Americans for Immigrant Justice. “The court’s decision recognizes what we’ve known all along: SB 4-C is not only unconstitutional, it’s inhumane. We’re grateful the court stepped in to prevent further harm and protect the rights of our clients and countless others across Florida.”
This ruling is a crucial first step toward immigrant justice—and a powerful reminder that when communities stand up, we can push back against oppressive policies. As the legal fight continues, advocates, families, and allies across Florida will keep organizing, speaking out, and demanding a future where all people—regardless of where they come from—can live with dignity, safety, and freedom.
Read the court’s order here.
