NEW YORK — A federal court has granted a preliminary injunction against part of a Florida law that restricts the employment of students from China and six other countries in the state’s public universities, a move welcomed by Asian American groups amid heightened U.S. scrutiny of Chinese people.

U.S. District Judge Jose Martinez ruled on Friday, in agreement with the magistrate judge, that foreigners already granted student visas will not be affected by the state law, commonly known as SB 846, and that the legislation conflicted with federal immigration law.