Attorney General Moody Warns DOJ Against Politically-Motivated Investigation of Florida’s Immigrant Relocation Program

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Release Date
Jul 13, 2023
Contact
Kylie Mason
Phone
(850) 245-0150

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is warning the U.S. Department of Justice against a politically-motivated investigation of Florida’s immigrant relocation program. In a letter to the DOJ, Attorney General Moody states that there is no legal basis for California’s request for the DOJ to investigate the program. Attorney General Moody’s letter responds to a request by the California Governor and Attorney General to the DOJ to investigate Florida and defends the state’s actions to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary cities on a volunteer basis. The letter also points out that California’s request is a political stunt and not a legal request, as California’s letter does not identify any violation of federal statute, judicial decision or law.  

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “California’s letter requesting that the U.S. Department of Justice investigate Florida is a ridiculous political stunt. Our voluntary immigration relocation program is lawful, and California’s request fails to identify any violation of federal law. As an Attorney General who leads hundreds of highly-qualified lawyers and has led dozens of legal challenges against this administration, it is jarring that California is not competent enough to articulate even a minimal legal basis for its request. I thought California loved to tout its commitment to illegal immigrants, but now its governor does not want more immigrants in California, claiming that more of them could break his state—how ironic.” 

Attorney General Moody is strongly urging the DOJ to not bail out California or engage in another political investigation. The letter states, “You have repeatedly stated that ‘political or other improper considerations must play no role in any investigative or prosecutorial decisions.’ Yet, the Democrat Governor and Attorney General of the State of California invite you to do exactly that in their letter to you dated July 6, 2023…While I would urge you not to bail out California or engage in another political investigation or litigation, if you make the unconscionable and unfounded determination to do so, Florida stands ready to fight against DOJ’s overreach. Florida has had tremendous success litigating against DOJ under the Biden Administration and I and Florida’s lawyers stand ready to depose, subpoena, and question Biden Administration officials in connection with such a proceeding… Another opportunity for litigation will only shine a brighter light on the Biden Administration’s complete abdication of its responsibility as to immigration and the jeopardy in which it has placed our country and its citizens.”

To read the letter, click here. 

Recent victories by Attorney General Moody against the Biden administration include:

  • June 5: 11th Circuit Court of Appeals rules in Florida’s favor, declining to stay the preliminary injunction that blocks President Joe Biden’s unlawful mass-release immigration policy;
  • May 16: Attorney General Moody obtains preliminary injunction in Florida’s case challenging Biden’s unlawful mass-release immigration policy;
  • May 15: Attorney General Moody obtains order denying stay of injunction against mass-release policy; 
  • May 13: Federal judge denies DOJ’s “borderline frivolous” motion to stay order obtained by Attorney General Moody to stop mass-release policy;
  • May 11: Federal judge grants Attorney General Moody’s request for a temporary restraining order enjoining Biden’s unlawful “Parole with Conditions” mass-release policy.

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