TALLAHASSEE — A federal judge on Thursday rejected attempts, including from the Biden administration, to block a new law touted by state Republicans and Gov. Ron DeSantis that prohibits some Chinese citizens from buying land in Florida.
U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, shot down the request from four Chinese immigrants and a real-estate firm to place a preliminary injunction on the law while the case moved through the court.
Winsor said those challenging the new law have not demonstrated that they could win the case, a key factor in determining whether to block a law ahead of a full-blown trial. He also contended that the legal challenge has not shown that the Republican-controlled Legislature was intentionally discriminating against Chinese individuals when it passed the restrictions.