Bondi Targets New York’s Sanctuary Policies—Legal Battle Begins!

The battle between the Trump administration and blue “sanctuary” states over immigration enforcement has reached a fevered pitch as U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed suit against New York State seeking injunctive relief.

Since the broadcast of last night’s live show, we’ve done some additional digging and have found that the lawsuit, which names Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, and DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder, seeks a declaratory judgment and a permanent injunction targeting New York’s controversial Green Light Law.

Let’s get wonky and dive right into this developing legal showdown.

What Is DOJ’s Lawsuit Against New York About?

In a press conference yesterday, AG Pam Bondi claimed that New York’s Green Light Laws are unconstitutional. This law protects the privacy rights of illegal immigrants who have been issued a non-federal driver’s license from inquiries from federal authorities seeking information related to their duties.

Bondi’s major point of contention is a provision in the law requiring New York’s DMV to notify undocumented immigrants if a federal agency requests their information. Critics argue that this “tip-off” policy obstructs federal immigration enforcement and directly violates federal law.

Bondi and the DOJ argue that this policy prioritizes undocumented immigrants over American citizens, endangering public safety.  Also, Bondi argues that restricting law enforcement access to NY DMV records puts federal officers and local communities at risk. That is because without access to an individual’s background information, federal law enforcement may unknowingly interact with violent criminals, drug traffickers, or gang members.

We posted Bondi’s lawsuit below. The DOJ filed it in the Northern District of New York.

United States v. New York -… by Gregory Price

What Relief Does Bondi Seek?

Initially, Gene Berardelli and Ross Galloway speculated whether this lawsuit includes criminal charges or is strictly a civil case. Having now reviewed the allegations, we can say that Bondi is clearly seeking provisional civil remedies, including a declaratory judgment that the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution preempts New York’s Green Light Laws, as well as a permanent injunction against enforcing those state laws. The initial confusion may have stemmed from Bondi’s use of the term “charges” instead of “allegations” or “causes of action.”

Bondi and the DOJ invoked the Supremacy Clause because the Constitution grants the federal government exclusive jurisdiction over immigration. As referenced in the lawsuit, the Supreme Court previously upheld this Supremacy Clause argument in a matter filed by the state of Arizona against the Obama administration.

NY Gov. Hochul’s Reaction

While news surrounding Bondi’s litigation is still developing, the New York Post reports that NY Gov. Kathy Hochul has canceled a previously arranged meeting with President Donald Trump concerning New York City’s congestion pricing law. This may signal that the already frosty relationship between the two is even further strained by Bondi’s latest filing.

Get in the Comments!

The DOJ’s lawsuit against New York marks a significant escalation in the battle over sanctuary policies. With federal and state governments at odds over immigration enforcement, this case has the potential for significant ramifications for future legal battles nationwide. As details unfold, let us know in the comments which side you think has the legal high ground. Should states have the power to shield illegal immigrants from federal enforcement? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!