U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor on Thursday turned back an effort to block a Florida law that prevents some Chinese citizens from owning land in the state.

The judge shot down a challenge to the law that prevents those "domiciled" in China with no U.S. citizenship from owning land near military bases, critical infrastructure and agricultural lands, saying that the real-estate firm and four Chinese immigrants who sought the injunction were not likely to win the case.

"Plaintiffs have not shown a substantial likelihood that unlawful animus motivated the Legislature," Winsor wrote in his 51-page decision.

Winsor noted specifically that their challenge, citing similarities between the law and California's 1913 Alien Land Law that was ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court failed to prove the Florida measure intended to discriminate based on race.

The American Civil Liberties Union said the law is discriminatory against Asian immigrants and deploys "false claims of national security" to support the law. The ACLU signed on as part of a coalition fighting the law.

While much of the attention over the law centers on China, it also restricts citizens from Russia, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and Syria, calling them countries of "concern."