A group advocating for farmworkers faced off with lawyers representing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody in a Miami courtroom. This is part of an ongoing federal lawsuit challenging a Florida law that makes it a felony to transport undocumented immigrants into the state.
The case is overseen by U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman. During the three-hour hearing, both parties discussed whether the plaintiffs can remain anonymous, if DeSantis should be removed as a defendant, and a request to pause the law during litigation.
The Farmworker Association of Florida, representing nearly 12,000 members advocating for migrant farmworkers, initiated the lawsuit in July. The contested law criminalizes knowingly transporting undocumented individuals into Florida.
The court discussed a motion for a preliminary injunction, which would halt the transportation law during litigation. The farmworker group argues that regulating migrant movement is a federal responsibility and that the law is vague, causing harm to various groups, including mixed-status families and seasonal workers.
The law has led to arrests by the Florida Highway Patrol, and critics argue it negatively affects immigrants and their families.
The court also debated whether plaintiffs, identified by initials, should reveal their names. Lawyers for the farmworker group emphasized that revealing identities could lead to personal harm, while the state’s lawyers argued for transparency.
The court will decide on various motions, including allowing anonymity, dismissing DeSantis as a party, and granting a preliminary injunction in the coming weeks.
Source: miamiherald
