A federal judge in Miami drew sharp criticism Tuesday after launching a tirade against Florida officials for attempting to enforce a state law aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration. The law, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and backed by President Donald Trump, makes it a misdemeanor for undocumented migrants to enter Florida after avoiding federal authorities.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, an Obama appointee, announced plans to issue a preliminary injunction against the law and claimed she was “shocked” that state officials weren’t fully complying with her earlier ruling.

“What I am offended by is someone suggesting you don’t have to follow my order, that it’s not legitimate,” Williams said, blasting Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier during the hearing.

Earlier this month, Judge Williams issued a temporary restraining order against the statute, a major piece of legislation signed into law in February as part of President Trump’s nationwide effort to restore order at the border. The judge extended the order for another 11 days after reports that 15 people—including one U.S. citizen—had been arrested under the new law.

But Trump-aligned officials are pushing back, making clear that local authorities still have the power and responsibility to enforce state laws protecting Floridians from the fallout of Biden’s border disaster.

Attorney General Uthmeier initially told police departments across Florida to stand down while the court process played out. However, he later clarified that Judge Williams’ ruling “does not bind Florida’s sheriffs, deputies, or local police,” and emphasized that the judiciary cannot unilaterally override the state’s constitutional responsibility to protect its own borders and citizens.

“Judge Williams is legally wrong,” Uthmeier said in his second memo, adding that the injunction was being misinterpreted as a statewide ban on enforcement.

The law in question criminalizes the act of illegally re-entering Florida after bypassing immigration authorities, a move designed to complement federal immigration law—not replace it. Trump and DeSantis have made it clear that states must have the authority to defend themselves from the dangerous consequences of the Biden administration’s open-border policies.

Critics of the law, including left-wing immigration activists and the corporate media, claim it could lead to wrongful arrests. But supporters point to skyrocketing crimes by illegal aliens and the Biden administration’s refusal to secure the border as justification for decisive action.

Since taking office for his second term, President Trump has made illegal immigration a top priority. His administration has partnered with states like Florida to empower local law enforcement, launch mass deportation operations, and close federal loopholes exploited by criminal aliens.

“This law is about protecting our communities, our children, and our future,” Trump said at a rally last month. “Florida is doing the right thing. And we’re going to take that model nationwide.”

Gov. DeSantis has echoed that message, saying that “if the federal government refuses to do its job, we will step up and do it ourselves.” His administration has emphasized that the law is targeted, constitutional, and urgently needed to stop human smuggling and drug trafficking across Florida’s borders.

Tuesday’s courtroom drama reflects a broader pattern of activist judges attempting to obstruct commonsense immigration enforcement. With nearly 8 million illegal crossings under Biden, states are now being forced to defend themselves from the lawlessness spilling into their neighborhoods.

Despite the temporary setback, Florida’s top officials are standing firm. “We are going to fight this all the way to the Supreme Court if we have to,” one DeSantis aide told Fox News. “We’re not letting Florida become a sanctuary for Biden’s border failure.”

For now, Judge Williams’ injunction remains in effect. But with a national crackdown on illegal immigration underway and overwhelming public support for Trump’s border agenda, many expect the law to be reinstated in short order—and for the courts to ultimately side with the rule of law.