The Tampa Bay Times reported Sunday that Florida arrested more than 20 people under the crackdown on new immigrants, even after a federal judge obstructed the law. Most were summarised in Linky Dink’s charges that state police and the Attorney General would not explain it. The arrests are the setting for costly legal combat and further politicization of law enforcement and courts.
Certainly that’s a terrible story. But if you don’t see this coming, raise your hand.
That’s because the Times Report captures everything wrong with the Florida government today in one piece. The horrors of public policy, the slavery of actors across the political spectrum, bureaucratic indifference, Tallahassee’s idea is that the rule of law is a champ. The mold in this public sphere has been built for many years, but Guardrail has left the immigrants and Donald Trump is flying high covers for crazy.
As reported by The Times, nearly all 25 people arrested after the judge was stopped by the Florida Highway Patrol and the law became the radar for federal immigration enforcement. Most people were pulled for minor traffic violations, including following too closely or slightly exceeding the speed limit. One man was arrested after being an obvious victim of the Hit and Rank Rush. Ten people faced no charges other than immigration crimes. No one was arrested for violent crimes. The six were only passengers from someone else’s car.
Is this a way for the Florida Highway Patrol to spend time? Just a few weeks ago, officials from the Florida State Police Union wrote in The Times, lamenting the workload of highway patrols, complaining that troopers “continue to struggle with an unsustainable lack of staffing that significantly undermine public safety.” Perhaps jumping to indulge the governor and president with immigrants was not the best decision of the agency. After all, choices have consequences. It’s no wonder the Patrol responded to questions from the Times and disagreed with the interview. I’m sure I’m too embarrassed.
But the big problem is that Florida continues to arrest after U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams issued a restraining order prohibiting state officials from enforcing new laws. The judge temporarily sided with the sued immigrant group, claiming that the measure was unconstitutional as it handed over immigration to the state to federal authorities. Florida Attorney General James Usmieyer initially told police to follow the judge’s orders, but a few days later he changed his song, calling the order legally “wrong” and told state law enforcement that he “can’t “prevent them from arresting them.” Nods and winks from the Attorney General were everything law enforcement needed.
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The judge is currently considering whether Uthmeier is being lightly empty. My only question is, what is the hold-up? Highway Patrol says it no longer enforces the law, but damages have already been made to both the court’s integrity and the arrested. Yank the Attorney General’s chain would underscore the authority of the court. Also, Florida law enforcement should be more enthusiastic about making noise.
If anything, the state looks stupid for yelling wolves about the need for statewide immigration crackdown. Supporters have sold Florida laws as a way to help the Trump administration force people to illegally commit violent crimes here. At least 79 people have been arrested since Florida law came into effect, but only two have been charged with violent crimes. Almost a third are charged with immigration crimes alone. For dozens, their only crime was driving without a license or seat belt or an expired tag. Sounds like a normal day on the Florida road to me.
That has always been a concern about this scheme. This means that supporters sell too much mission and are below performance. Now the highway patrol looks bad, the Attorney General looks cheating and this exaggerated law appears to be at risk. It’s a very fallout for just four months’ decree, but it says something about how the Florida government works, Tallahassee’s priorities, and the talent pool that will run them.
