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The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against the state of New York and its governor, Kathy Hochul, and Attorney General Letitia James, alleging a failure to comply with federal law by shielding illegal immigrants, newly sworn-in Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Wednesday.
"This is a new DOJ," Bondi announced at a news conference. "New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops. It stops today."
Also charged is Mark Schroeder, commissioner of the New York Department of Motor Vehicles. Bondi cited New York's Green Light laws, also known as the Driver's License Act, which allows illegal immigrants to get a driver's license.
Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks at a news conference about immigration enforcement at the Justice Department Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Washington.? (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
The law also prevents certain federal agencies from accessing New York State's driver's license information.
"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 said. "And law enforcement officers do not have access to their background. And if these great men and women pull over someone and don't have access to their background, they have no idea who they're dealing with, and it puts their lives on the line every single day.
"If you don't comply with federal law, we will hold you accountable," Bondi said. "We did it to Illinois, strike one. Strike two is New York. And if you are a state not complying with federal law, you're next. Get ready."
The Justice Department last week asked a federal judge to strike down sanctuary policies in Illinois and Chicago.
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Hochul responded to the lawsuit late Wednesday night, calling it "worthless" and "publicity-driven" in a long statement slamming Bondi's decision to sue New York and a handful of its officials.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called AG Pam Bondi's immigration-related lawsuit against the state "worthless" and "publicity-driven," adding that New York is "not backing down." (AP Photo/Hans Pennink, File)
"Earlier today, Attorney General Pam Bondi marched in front of the television cameras for a dramatic media briefing to announce she was filing charges against New York State related to our immigration laws. Hours later, when legal papers were shared with reporters, we learned this was smoke and mirrors: the Department of Justice was filing a routine civil action about a law passed in 2019 that has been upheld by the courts time and again.
"Here are the facts: our current laws allow federal immigration officials to access any DMV database with a judicial warrant. That's a common-sense approach that most New Yorkers support. But there's no way I'm letting federal agents, or Elon Musk's shadowy DOGE operation, get unfettered access to the personal data of any New Yorker in the DMV system like 16-year-old kids learning to drive and other vulnerable people.
"New York is proud that immigrants from across the globe come here searching for a better life — people like my grandparents who left Ireland looking for the American dream. We welcome law-abiding individuals who want to work, pay taxes and contribute to our communities, while at the same time protecting the public safety of all New Yorkers by cracking down on violent criminals.
"We expect Pam Bondi's worthless, publicity-driven lawsuit to be a total failure, just like all the others. Let me be clear: New York is not backing down."
New York Attorney General Letitia James also responded to the lawsuit late Wednesday night with the following sentence: "Our state laws, including the Green Light law, protect the rights of all New Yorkers and keep our communities safe. I am prepared to defend our laws, just as I always have."
At the news conference, Bondi was joined by "angel mom" Tammy Nobles of Maryland, whose 20-year-old daughter, Kayla Hamilton, was raped and murdered by an illegal immigrant and MS-13 member in 2022.
Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks at a news conference on immigration enforcement at the Justice Department Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Washington, as Tammy Nobles, mother of Kayla Hamilton, listens.? (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
The Department of Homeland Security "did not do their jobs," Nobles said Wednesday, at times choking back tears while sharing her family's story.
"They did not check his background," she said. "I'm so thankful for Pam for having me here today, and I'm so thankful for the opportunities I got from Trump and and any other platform — and for the people (allowing) me to share her story, because this is going to end."
The suspect, Walter Martinez, an MS-13 gang member from El Salvador who was in the United States illegally, entered the country through Texas as an unaccompanied minor in March 2022. He was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol and eventually sent to Maryland to live with a sponsor.
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Four months later, Martinez moved to a mobile home in Aberdeen, where he was accused of killing Hamilton.
During the news conference, Bondi urged states with sanctuary policies to comply with federal law.
"We don't want to sue you. We don't want to prosecute people. We want people to comply with the law," she said. "This is very simple. An MS-13 member murdered her daughter. That's happening throughout this country.
"One angel mom is too many," she added. "And we have angel moms throughout this country who should not be going through this. Comply with the law. This is the last thing we want to be doing."
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Fox News Digital has reached out to Schroeder's office.
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