From The Head Down

 Florida goes full Stephen Miller:

Just got out of an interesting hearing before Judge Williams in Miami in the suit challenging Florida's SB 4-C, which criminalizes the entry of unauthorized migrants into the state. This is the law under which U.S. citizen Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez was charged on Wednesday.

You see...

The issue is that Judge Williams issued a temporary restraining order on April 4 blocking enforcement of the law. At the hearing today, on converting the TRO to a preliminary injunction, the plaintiffs challenging the law say they know of 13 arrests made under the law in Leon County alone.

But the judge didn’t say “Simon says”.

This did not go over well with Judge Williams. "You can’t possibly be ready to stand up as an officer of the court and tell me that this order has no force and effect for the activities of the Florida Highway Patrol."

Sure they can.

The state's attorney responded "That is our understanding of the order." He says state attorneys around the state are abiding by the TRO, and that when these cases come before them they are dismissed.

Trump does it. Why can’t Florida?

Judge Williams pointed out that it took two days for Lopez-Gomez to be released. The gov't attorney said that's because there was an ICE hold.

ICE, Florida has to obey. Obeying federal judges is optional.

Judge Williams: "I frankly am astounded and don't understand this argument. I thought this was going to be a footnote to today's discussion, but it's clear this is going to have to be briefed." So now we're going to have briefing on how far a TRO extends to non-parties.

I’m sure she used the word “facilitate” in her order, and that gave them the loophole they needed. All the pundits think so.

She extended the TRO until April 29, when she set another hearing, and clarified that the order applies to "anyone tasked with enforcing the law."

So the Florida state attorneys can’t enforce the law, but but the cops can. Because, sure, why not?