The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, and state officials, arguing that New York’s Green Light Law obstructs federal immigration enforcement. The lawsuit, announced by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday, February 12th, claims that the law unlawfully restricts federal access to state motor vehicle records, preventing immigration authorities from identifying and removing individuals in the country illegally.
The Green Light Law, enacted in 2019, allows illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses while prohibiting state officials from sharing DMV records with federal immigration agencies unless a judicial warrant is obtained. It also requires the state to notify an individual if federal immigration authorities request their information. The lawsuit states that this policy interferes with federal enforcement efforts and violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
“By intent and design, the Green Light Law is a frontal assault on the federal immigration laws and the federal authorities that administer them,” the lawsuit states. Bondi argued that New York is actively obstructing immigration enforcement and placing federal officers at risk by denying them critical information.
Governor Hochul dismissed the lawsuit as politically motivated. “We expect Pam Bondi’s worthless, publicity-driven lawsuit to be a total failure, just like all the others,” she said in a statement. Hochul defended the state’s policies, stating that New York law allows federal authorities access to DMV records with a judicial warrant, which she called a “common-sense approach.” She also rejected concerns that the law shields criminals, emphasizing that the state is focused on prosecuting violent offenders.
Bondi was joined at the press conference by Tammy Nobles, the mother of Kayla Hamilton, a 20-year-old Maryland woman who was raped and murdered by an illegal immigrant in 2022. Nobles, who has become an advocate for stricter immigration enforcement, called for greater federal oversight to prevent similar tragedies. “I’m so thankful for Pam for having me here today, and I’m so thankful for the opportunities I got from Trump and any other platform—because this is going to end,” she said.
The lawsuit is expected to face a legal battle, as similar challenges to New York’s immigration policies have been litigated in the past. State officials argue the law has already withstood legal scrutiny, while federal authorities maintain it undermines their ability to enforce immigration laws effectively.
