Trump’s Justice Division on Wednesday introduced it might file civil costs in opposition to Gov. Hochul and New York Lawyer Basic Letitia James for limiting compliance with the president’s hard-line immigration insurance policies.
“New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops. It stops today,” U.S. Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi mentioned at a press convention, saying it was “a new DOJ” and including if different states should not compliant, “You are next, get ready.”
The lawsuit didn’t seem to have been filed when Bondi introduced it. The deliberate motion follows the same federal motion the DOJ filed final week in opposition to Illinois.
Bondi mentioned New York “didn’t listen.”
The newly sworn-in AG mentioned the go well with would particularly problem New York’s “green light” legal guidelines, which restrict the DMV from sharing details about undocumented drivers with federal authorities.
“What New York has, they have green-light laws, meaning they’re giving a green light to any illegal alien in New York where law enforcement officers cannot check their identity if they pull them over,” Bondi mentioned.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul listens as Lawyer Basic Letitia James communicate throughout a information convention in New York, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. (AP Picture/Seth Wenig)
Bondi mentioned state Commissioner of the Division of Motor Automobiles Mark Schroeder would even be a defendant within the go well with.
Trump has made clear he plans to problem so-called sanctuary legal guidelines that protect undocumented immigrants from federal intervention in sure settings. In New York Metropolis, which Bondi didn’t say could be named as a defendant, Mayor Adams has mentioned he thinks town’s present sanctuary protections go too far in shielding criminals and has mentioned he could use govt actions to roll them again.
Bondi mentioned she hoped Adams would get on board with the administration’s hard-line ways.
Federal prosecutors on the Manhattan U.S. legal professional’s workplace have been ordered by Fundamental Justice in Washington, D.C., to drop the sweeping public corruption case in opposition to Adams. The directive mentioned it was essential for him to be free to “support” the DOJ’s “critical” immigration enforcement actions.
“We’re hoping that in New York, Mayor Adams is going to cooperate with us,” the AG mentioned Wednesday.
In a press release, the New York Civil Liberties Union known as the announcement an try by the federal authorities to “shamelessly” bend the need of its political rivals.
“This filing is yet another Trump administration attempt to shamelessly weaponize the Department of Justice to intimidate political opponents and exert improper political pressure. It seeks to punish states for enacting state policies with which it disagrees. Attorney General Bondi should know, but more likely doesn’t care, that the purported charges represent a gross intrusion into New York’s constitutional right to legislate in areas traditionally within its concern,” NYCLU’s authorized director, Molly Biklen, mentioned.
“New York’s Green Light Law has helped New York’s families and communities. It’s made our roads safer and our economy stronger. New York and our public officials are under no obligation to give our state resources to enable the Trump administration’s cruel and destructive deportation plans.”
Initially Printed: February 12, 2025 at 5:40 PM EST
