Topline
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a lawsuit against New York state, Gov. Kathy Hochul and two other state leaders over New York’s “green light law,” which Bondi said does not comply with federal law—marking the second lawsuit of its kind under the Trump administration.
Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks at a news conference regarding immigration enforcement at the ... [+]
Key Facts
Bondi said the Justice Department filed a suit against the state, Hochul, New York Attorney General Letitia James and Mark Schroder, commissioner of New York’s Department of Motor Vehicles.
“This is a new DOJ,” Bondi said at a press conference Wednesday as she announced the charges—which stem from the state’s “green light law,” also known as the Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act.
The DOJ announced similar charges against Illinois and Chicago last week, alleging there were state and local laws in place “designed to and in fact interfere with and discriminate against the Federal Government’s enforcement of federal immigration law,” The Washington Post reported.
Forbes has reached out to Hochul’s office for comment.
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What Is New York’s Green Light Law?
The law, which passed and was enacted in 2019, allows all New Yorkers over 16 to apply for a “standard, not-for-federal purpose, non-commercial driver license or learner permit” regardless of their citizenship, and it provides a number of privacy protections around data sharing, “including to agencies that primarily enforce immigration laws,” according to the state.
What Is The Criticism Of The Law?
In the press conference, Bondi described the law as having a “‘tip-off’ provision that requires New York's DMV commissioner to promptly inform any illegal alien when a federal immigration agency has requested their information,” Bondi said, adding that was “unconstitutional.” The law is part of a number of sanctuary city laws, some of which were enacted in New York to “impose certain limitations on the City’s ability to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement,” according to the mayor’s office. Recently, Trump’s border czar Tom Homan didn’t rule out preventing cars with New York state license plates from entering the country until the law is changed, The Buffalo News reported. “Without access to DMV information, we’re unable to get full information on drivers and vehicles with New York plates that are entering this country. … We need to be sharing information with local law enforcement to keep our borders safe,” Homan told The Buffalo News.
Crucial Quote
“New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens,” Bondi said at Wednesday's press conference. “It stops, it stops today. As you know we sued Illinois, and New York didn’t listen—so, now, you’re next.”
Key Background
Bondi announcing the legal action against New York is the latest move the Trump administration has made to address immigration concerns, with mass deportations being one of President Donald Trump’s focuses in his first weeks in office. On his first day as president, Trump signed a string of executive orders that targeted immigration, including ordering the military to the border, suspending parole programs and making migrants wait in Mexico while their asylum cases play out. The White House on Jan. 23 announced that “The largest massive deportation operation in history is well underway,” and reportedly was aiming to make examples out of sanctuary cities like New York, Denver and Chicago. Officials have said they are working to prioritize deporting “criminal aliens” and “as many public safety and national security threats as possible.”
Further Reading
Justice Department sues Illinois and Chicago over immigration enforcement (Washington Post)
Trump's 'border czar' targets NY law that lets undocumented migrants get driver’s licenses (The Buffalo News)
