If you wish to help ConservativeHQ reach more readers then donate here.
Florida’s conservative Republican rockstar Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a “big win” for Florida this week as the US Court of Appeals defended a law preventing ownership of Florida land by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials.
“Today we won big at the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, defending our law preventing ownership of Florida land by the Chinese Communist Party. Thanks to Senior Deputy Solicitor General Forrester and Assistant Solicitor General Schenck for securing a huge win for FL!” Uthmeier posted to X.
The 2-1 ruling, by the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, could encourage other states to adopt so-called alien land laws, which were once common but fell out of favor a century ago. Lawmakers in more than 30 states have passed or introduced bills restricting foreign property ownership, reported Reuters.
In 2023, Florida passed a law, Senate Bill 264, that prohibits anyone from a “country of concern” from purchasing or owning land in the state, wrote Adrian Morgade in a report for The Floridian.
Senate Bill 264 primarily targets Chinese nationals not lawfully residing in the U.S. from owning real property in Florida, with specific exceptions for certain residential properties and limited indirect interests.
The law prohibits individuals who are "domiciled" in China and are not U.S. citizens or green card holders from purchasing real estate or land in Florida. It allows non-tourist visa holders and asylum recipients to purchase a single residential property as big as two acres that is at least five miles (8 km) from any military installation.
Republican Governor Ron DeSantis said when he signed the law in 2023 that it would help protect Americans from the influence of the Chinese Communist Party.
Senate Bill 264 also restricts citizens from the Russian Federation, Islamic Republic of Iran, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Cuba, Syrian Arab Republic, and the Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro from owning certain types of property, particularly agricultural land and property near military installations or critical infrastructure.
The 11th Circuit said four Chinese citizens represented by the American Civil Liberties Union lacked legal standing to sue over Florida's 2023 law because it only applies to people "domiciled" in China, and they have lived in Florida for years, Daniel Wiessner reported for Reuters.
The court also rejected claims that provisions of the law requiring Chinese citizens to register their properties with the state conflict with a federal law governing foreign investments and were improperly motivated by racism against Chinese people and Asians.
"National, individual, land, and food security concerns motivated (the law's) enactment," Circuit Judge Robert Luck wrote for the court.
Florida politicians have been adamant about their intentions to keep Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence out of the state. Sen. Rick Scott (R) has headed multiple bills designed to expose CCP officials’ ownership of U.S. property and bar them from continuing to purchase more.
“The United States is facing threats from adversaries around the world who want to destroy our way of life. Xi and the Communist Chinese Party have blatantly spied on the United States, stolen our research and intellectual data, and attempted to infiltrate the inner workings of government to the regime’s interests,” Scott said in a press conference, announcing his CCP Influence Act.
- Florida AG James Uthmeier
- Chinese farmland purchases
- Florida Farmland
- Governor Ron DeSantis
- US Court of Appeals
- Senate Bill 264
- Chinese Communist Party
- Senior Deputy Solicitor General Forrester
- Assistant Solicitor General Schenck
- Alien Land laws
- Foreign property ownership laws
- Military installations
- Russian Federation
- Iran
- Agricultural land
- CCP Influence Act
Wanna help us reach more readers?
Since 1999, ConservativeHQ has been providing for free news and information for conservative leaders and activists intended to help grow the conservative movement so large that conservatives will govern America.
If you enjoy our content and wish to help finance the success and growth of ConservativeHQ, then I urge you to donate here, or mail a contribution to: ConservativeHQ, 9625 Surveyor Court, Ste 400, Manassas, VA 20110. Your contribution is not tax deductible, but greatly appreciated!
