The Trump administration has taken legal action against New York Governor Kathy Hochul and other state officials for allegedly failing to enforce federal immigration law.
On Wednesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the U.S. Justice Department filed the lawsuit in a federal court in Albany.
According to Reuters, the lawsuit also names Attorney General Letitia James and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Commissioner Mark Schroeder and challenges the state’s “Green Light Law.”
The law prohibits state authorities from sharing vehicle and address information with federal immigration officials.
The complaint contends that this law violates the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, which asserts that federal law takes precedence over conflicting state and local laws.
The Justice Department is seeking a court order to prevent New York from enforcing the statute. Bondi criticised the law, claiming it obstructs cooperation with federal immigration enforcement because of a “tip-off provision” that requires the DMV to notify individuals when immigration officials request their information.
“This is a new DOJ, and we are taking steps to protect Americans,” Bondi said in the report, adding, “New York has chosen to prioritise illegal aliens over American citizens.”
In response, James defended the state’s position.
“We are prepared to defend our laws,” she said in a statement.
“Our state laws, including the Green Light Law, protect the rights of all New Yorkers and keep our communities safe.”
The lawsuit reportedly followed a similar case filed days earlier against Illinois over its immigration enforcement policies.
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In the case, the Justice Department targeted the TRUST Act, a “sanctuary law” that it claims obstructs federal immigration enforcement and violates the Supremacy Clause.
“We did it to Illinois—strike one. Strike two is New York. If you’re a state not complying with federal law? You’re next,” Bondi warned.
The lawsuits are part of the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on immigration enforcement.
The Trump administration’s lawsuit against New York over immigration enforcement is part of a broader legal battle between the federal government and states implementing pro-immigrant policies.
SaharaReporters recently reported that several states previously sued the Trump administration over anti-immigration executive orders, arguing that they violated constitutional rights and state sovereignty.
These lawsuits highlight ongoing tensions over immigration between state and federal authorities. New York’s Green Light Law, now under federal scrutiny, reflects a similar state-federal clash.
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The Trump administration argues that such laws obstruct immigration enforcement, while states defend them as necessary protections for immigrant communities.
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