Immigrant advocacy organizations have filed a class-action lawsuit against Florida, claiming that a new law targeting undocumented immigrants is unconstitutional. The Florida Immigrant Coalition and the Farmworker Association of Florida, supported by two individual plaintiffs, filed the legal challenge in federal court in Miami, according to NBC Miami.

The lawsuit targets Senate Bill 4-C (SB 4-C), passed during a special legislative session in February, which establishes state-level offenses for undocumented immigrants who enter or re-enter Florida. The plaintiffs argue that immigration enforcement is a federal matter, citing the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans for Immigrant Justice stated, "Under this novel system, the state of Florida has created its own immigration crimes, completely outside the federal immigration system," as per CBS News Miami.

The law could lead to state police arresting noncitizens for new crimes, with state prosecutors handling the charges and state judges deciding guilt and punishment.

The lawsuit also argues that the law violates the Constitution's Commerce Clause by interfering with interstate and international commerce. The law, backed by Governor Ron DeSantis, aligns with former President Donald Trump's tough immigration policies and is one of two immigration bills passed during the February legislative session. Advocates for immigrant rights argue that the law exceeds the state's authority and encroaches on federal responsibilities.