U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Wednesday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is filing a lawsuit against New York over its pushback against the Trump administration’s efforts to deport illegal migrants.
Bondi appeared at a White House press conference to discuss the allegations against officials in the Democratic state, including Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, and New York Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Mark Schroeder. The DOJ lawsuit comes nearly a week after Bondi filed a lawsuit against Chicago, Cook County, and the state of Illinois over their sanctuary policies.
“This is a new DOJ,” Bondi said. “We are taking steps to protect Americans, American citizens, and angel moms.”
“New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops today,” Bondi added. “We sued Illinois. New York did not listen. Now you’re next.”
While Hochul has not released a statement on the lawsuit, the Democratic governor is set to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday.
WATCH:
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Attorney General Pam Bondi announces that the DOJ has FILED CHARGES against the state of NY, Kathy Hochul, and Letitia James for failing to enforce federal immigration law. pic.twitter.com/iECuedRFPW
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 12, 2025
Both Chicago and New York are among the list of sanctuary cities that have vowed to protect illegal immigrants despite President Donald Trump’s vow to conduct a mass deportation of illegal migrants and secure the southern border.
During the press conference, Bondi called out New York’s “Green Light Law,” which was passed in 2019 and allows “all New Yorkers age 16 and older to apply for a standard, not-for-federal-purpose, non-commercial driver license or learner permit regardless of their citizenship or lawful status in the United States.” The law allows those applying for a driver’s license or permit in the state to not provide a Social Security number to apply, noting the license will appear the same “regardless of the proof documents you provide when you apply.”
“Violent criminals, gang members, drug traffickers, human smugglers will no longer terrorize the American people, and that is why we are here today,” Bondi said.
“We don’t want to sue you,” Bondi said. “We don’t want to prosecute people. We want people to comply with the law.”
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