After the state said the case was moot, a federal appeals court Tuesday dismissed Florida’s challenge against Biden administration immigration policies issued early this year.
A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a motion by the state to dismiss the case. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody took the case to the Atlanta-based appeals court after U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell in May rejected the state’s request for a preliminary injunction against the policies dealing with people entering the country illegally.
But as the appeal was pending, the federal government issued revised policies, which led Friday to the state filing the motion and saying the appeal was moot. The appeals court Tuesday agreed, saying the initial policies “have been superseded and are no longer in effect.” Moody and Gov. Ron DeSantis have long criticized the Biden administration’s handling of undocumented immigrants and border security.
In a Twitter post Monday night, Moody left open the possibility that the state could challenge the revised Biden administration policies. “We are currently reviewing the new federal guidelines and will take whatever action necessary to protect Floridians,” the tweet said in part.
