DOJ Sues New York Over Law Blocking Immigration Enforcement

The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against New York over its sanctuary policies, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Wednesday. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, names Gov. Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James and DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder as defendants.

“This is a new DOJ,” Bondi said. “New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops today.”

The lawsuit targets New York’s Green Light Law, which allows illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses and restricts federal authorities from accessing DMV records. It also requires that illegal immigrants be notified if their records are requested by immigration officials, a policy the DOJ argues obstructs enforcement.

Bondi stressed that such laws put public safety at risk. “Criminals, gang members, drug traffickers, and human smugglers have been allowed to hide behind these policies,” she said.

This lawsuit follows similar legal action against Illinois, as the Trump administration continues to challenge state-level sanctuary policies. Former President Joe Biden’s administration previously allowed states to enact such laws, but the current DOJ is working to reverse them.

New York officials, including Hochul and James, have vowed to fight the lawsuit, calling it politically motivated. However, Bondi reiterated that federal law takes precedence over state policies and that the DOJ will continue to pursue legal action against states that do not comply.