Complaint by Several Chinese Citizens Against Property Purchase Restrictions in Florida

A group of Chinese citizens residing in Florida has filed a complaint against the state to overturn a new law that restricts property and land purchases for citizens of China, Iran, Russia, and several other countries. According to Reuters, the four plaintiffs, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), emphasized in a petition submitted to federal court that this law violates the U.S. Constitution and federal housing discrimination laws. The new law, set to take effect on July 1, prohibits citizens from seven countries, including Iran and China, who are not U.S. citizens or do not hold green cards, from owning property or land in "sensitive areas" of Florida. Under this law, citizens of Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Russia, and North Korea are barred from purchasing property within 16 kilometers of any military installation or critical infrastructure such as power plants, airports, and refineries. The new law has a limited exception allowing non-tourist visa holders from these countries to purchase property that is at least eight kilometers away from sensitive facilities and no larger than two hectares. Ron DeSantis, the Republican governor of Florida, who is expected to announce his presidential candidacy soon, stated when this law was introduced in early May that it protects Americans from the influence of the Chinese Communist Party. Individuals who violate the law may face criminal charges, fines, and imprisonment. The ACLU's petition compares Florida's new law to a set of laws enacted by U.S. states in the early 1900s that prohibited Chinese and Japanese immigrants from owning land. Most of these laws were struck down by courts in the 1950s, but one law remained in Florida until 2018, when voters called for its repeal.