A judge in Tallahassee today released a ruling that refuses to block the implementation of Florida’s law that prohibits many Chinese immigrants from buying a home, reports the Commercial Observer.
The law specifically targets those from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and others.
The ACLU and the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) filed suit on behalf of four Chinese residents asking the court for an emergency injunction while their challenge of the law makes its way through the courts.
“Our community will continue to fight against Florida’s unjust and racist law,” said Bethany Li, legal director at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, in a statement sent to AsAmNews. “These types of laws use false stereotypes about Asian Americans as perpetual foreigners and have repeatedly harmed our community — from the Chinese Exclusion Act, to the Japanese Americans’ incarceration during World War II, and the surveillance of South Asians in the post-9/11 period.”
The court ruled the four Chinese residents did not show that they have a substantial likelihood of winning their case. The justice also ruled that the Fair Housing Act protects people from being discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin.” However, Judge Allen Winsor said the FHA did not “make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of citizenship or alienage.”
“This law is hurting immigrants who are trying to build lives in Florida,” said Jian Song, owner of Multi-Choice Realty LLC. “As a Chinese American who has called Orlando my home for over 20 years, I’ve been extremely worried since this law went into effect.”
The ACLU vowed to keep fighting the law signed by Florida Governor and GOP Presidential candidate Ron DeSantis.
“While today’s decision is disheartening, our clients will continue to fight for their rights to equality and fairness on appeal,” said Ashley Gorski, senior staff attorney at ACLU’s National Security Project. “Florida’s law legitimizes and expands housing discrimination, in violation of both the Constitution and the Fair Housing Act.”
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