ORLANDO, Fla. — Two men were wrongly charged last weekend under a Florida immigration law that is currently suspended due to a judicial order, according to a report from the state attorney general’s office. The charges stem from separate incidents in Bradenton where the men were arrested for minor driving infractions. The law prohibits individuals from entering Florida if they are undocumented, but a federal judge ruled earlier this year that it could not be enforced while under legal challenge. The Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier reported these charges, highlighting a troubling trend where law enforcement continues to act against undocumented individuals despite the judicial restrictions.

In one case, a man was stopped for having loose branches in his truck and mentioned he had an expired driver’s license. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) later confirmed his undocumented status. The second man was charged after a vehicle block was reported; he also admitted to being in the U.S. illegally when contacted by ICE. Despite these arrests, state prosecutors will likely drop the immigration charges given the ongoing judicial review of the law.

Florida’s immigration law has caused significant controversy, labeling undocumented individuals as criminals for entering the state. However, federal courts have intervened, underscoring the complex interplay between state laws and federal judicial authority. Attorney General Uthmeier has been required to submit bimonthly reports detailing any law enforcement actions related to the contested law following a finding of civil contempt related to a prior directive that disregarded the court's order.

These wrongful charges shed light on the challenges faced by undocumented individuals and raise urgent questions regarding the enforcement of controversial immigration laws by state authorities in violation of federal judicial decisions.