Controversy Surrounding Florida’s Law Restricting Property Ownership for Chinese Nationals
TALLAHASSEE — The spotlight was on a federal courthouse in Tallahassee as a packed courtroom gathered to witness a heated legal battle over Florida’s new law, SB 264, which imposes restrictions on property ownership for individuals from China. The law, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in May, has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights advocates, and the legal challenge has caught the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Four Chinese individuals and a real estate brokerage representing Chinese clients initiated the lawsuit, claiming that the law violates constitutional rights and the federal Fair Housing Act, and is preempted by federal law. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor listened intently to more than two hours of arguments from both sides.
The state’s argument centers around national security concerns, with State Solicitor General Henry Whitaker expressing worries about the influence of the Chinese Communist Party in Florida. However, the plaintiffs’ attorneys, including representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, argued that the law perpetuates harmful stereotypes and unfairly targets Chinese nationals, regardless of their citizenship status or their intentions in the United States.
Critics of the law have accused the state of relying on “pernicious stereotypes” that portray people from China as a threat to national security, conflating individual Chinese nationals with the actions of the Chinese government. The issue has sparked debates about the intersection of foreign affairs, national security, and property rights.
The law specifically targets individuals from “foreign countries of concern,” which include China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, and Syria. For Chinese nationals who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents, the law imposes significant restrictions on property ownership. While they are allowed to purchase one residential property of up to 2 acres outside of a 5-mile radius from military bases, the law otherwise prevents them from acquiring property, including agricultural land or property near military bases.
The crux of the legal challenge lies in whether the Florida law violates equal-protection rights, the Fair Housing Act, and if it is preempted by federal law. The preemption issue arises from the existence of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which holds the authority to review real estate transactions involving certain individuals from foreign countries.
The Department of Justice has weighed in on the matter, supporting the plaintiffs’ claims and arguing that the law infringes upon the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Protection Clause. However, attorneys general from several states have filed a friend-of-the-court brief opposing the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction.
As the courtroom drama unfolds, the nation watches closely, awaiting Judge Winsor’s ruling on whether to block the implementation of the controversial Florida law. The decision could have far-reaching implications for property rights, national security, and civil liberties in the Sunshine State and beyond.