As the state’s top law enforcement official, Attorney General James Uthmeier made heads spin when he initially told Florida police officers to obey a federal judge’s order not to arrest undocumented immigrants entering the state — then days later told them that he “cannot prevent” them from making arrests under a new law being challenged in court.

On Wednesday, Uthmeier told the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and other police agencies that they could enforce the state statute criminalizing illegal immigrants arriving in Florida who don’t notify federal authorities of their entry — contrary to an April 18 order issued by U.S.

District Judge Kathleen Williams in Miami. Williams is expected to address the explosive issue at a hearing next Tuesday, when state lawyers face off against immigration advocates who sued Florida over the constitutionality of the new immigration law.