Florida Immigration Coalition Inc., et al. v. Ronald D. DeSantis, et al.
Case Number
During 2022, Florida established a 鈥淩elocation Program鈥� for the 鈥渢ransport of unauthorized aliens from the state.鈥� The Southern Poverty Law Center and its partners filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of聽聽of Florida鈥檚 2022 General Appropriations Act, which created the $12 million program at the request of Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of three nonprofit immigrant rights organizations, argues that this program violates the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution by usurping the federal government鈥檚 sole role in regulating and enforcing immigration law. It also violates the 14th Amendment鈥檚 equal protection clause by allowing state-sponsored harassment of immigrants based on race, color and national origin.
DeSantis鈥� program is funded by interest earned from federal COVID-19 relief funds received by the state. It was established during a year the governors of Texas and Arizona garnered national headlines by busing immigrants to states that are home to so-called 鈥渟anctuary cities.鈥�
