The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against New York over its “Green Light” law, which allows people to get driver’s licenses regardless of their immigration status. Pam Bondi, who was recently sworn in as the country’s top prosecutor, announced the lawsuit at her first press conference in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
The lawsuit was filed in a federal court in Albany County and challenges parts of the 2019 law. This law not only lets undocumented immigrants get licenses but also stops federal immigration agencies from accessing DMV records without a warrant.
“This law is unconstitutional,” Bondi said. She pointed out that the law requires the New York DMV to notify undocumented immigrants if immigration officials request their information. She argued that this goes against federal law.
The Justice Department says this part of the law violates the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, which makes federal law the highest authority. The lawsuit names New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, and DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder as defendants.
New York Defends Its Law
Attorney General Letitia James pushed back against the lawsuit, saying the state’s laws help keep New Yorkers safe. “I am ready to defend our laws, as I always have,” she said.
Meanwhile, Murad Awawdeh, president of the New York Immigration Coalition, called the lawsuit “an attack on the 10th Amendment,” which allows states to create their own laws. The New York Civil Liberties Union also criticized the Trump administration’s move, calling it a political tactic to pressure states into following federal immigration policies.
Trump Administration’s Broader Actions on Immigration
Bondi suggested that this lawsuit is part of a larger effort to challenge state laws that don’t cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Last week, the Justice Department sued Illinois over a similar law in Chicago.
“We sued Illinois—strike one. Now it’s New York—strike two. Any state that doesn’t follow federal law is next,” Bondi warned.
At the same time, Trump and Governor Hochul are reportedly discussing a possible deal about New York’s new congestion pricing program. Trump may consider ending the toll system in exchange for a large federal investment in the city’s transportation system.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is also set to meet with Trump’s immigration adviser, Tom Homan, on Thursday. Homan wants Adams to cooperate with federal deportation plans, but he has warned, “Either he works with us, or we go around him.”
Bondi, who previously worked as a lawyer for Trump during his first impeachment trial, has a long history with the former president. Now, as Attorney General, she is leading legal actions that could have a major impact on immigration policies across the country.
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