The Justice Department has taken legal action against New York State, its Governor Kathy Hochul, and the state Attorney General Letitia James over their policies on immigration enforcement. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced this move, emphasizing the need to prioritize American citizens over undocumented immigrants.
“Our actions are aimed at protecting Americans,” Bondi declared, while accusing New York of giving preference to undocumented individuals rather than native citizens. Previously, Bondi’s office filed a similar lawsuit against Illinois, and now New York finds itself under legal scrutiny.
Attorney General Letitia James defended New York’s position, asserting that the state’s laws, such as the Green Light law, safeguard all its residents and maintain community safety. “As I have always done, I’m prepared to defend our laws,” James stated in a response to the lawsuit.
Bondi’s allegations suggest New York officials must alert undocumented immigrants when federal agencies seek information about their immigration status—an accusation included in the federal complaint. She also argued that New York’s legal framework impedes state and federal law enforcement from executing immigration laws effectively.
Governor Hochul dismissed Bondi’s legal action as mere theatrics, describing the lawsuit as a “routine civil action about a law upheld several times since its enactment in 2019.” In her rebuttal, Hochul expressed her determination to shield New Yorkers from what she perceives as unwarranted access to their personal information, which includes rejecting potential data exploitation by federal agencies or corporate entities like Elon Musk’s operations.
“We expect Pam Bondi’s frivolous lawsuit to fail like those before it. New York will steadfastly uphold its legal rights,” Hochul affirmed.
Interestingly, New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams is not a target in this lawsuit. The Justice Department recognized that the legal proceedings had unjustly constrained his capacity to manage immigration and crime issues in New York City, resulting in a temporary suspension of their investigation into his office.
Attorney General Bondi acknowledged the ongoing case involving Mayor Adams but expressed optimism that federal prosecutors would eventually drop the charges against him. “We anticipate cooperation from Mayor Adams concerning sanctuary cities and undocumented individuals,” she mentioned.
During a related press meeting, Tammy Nobles, who lost her daughter to a violent crime by an MS-13 gang member, shared her tragic experience to underscore the potential dangers associated with illegal immigration.
In her initial hours as attorney general, Bondi provided directives targeting sanctuary jurisdictions, mandating them to terminate funding that interferes unlawfully with federal law enforcement. Her department pledged enforcement action against states or sanctuary jurisdictions failing to align with federal immigration mandates.
“State and local jurisdictions are required to adhere to relevant federal immigration laws,” a department memo iterated. It elaborated that state and local authorities must not obstruct lawful immigration-related directives.
Another directive from Bondi focused on dismantling criminal organizations trafficking drugs, stating a need for additional resources and strategic legal actions to tackle illegal drug supply networks.
The Justice Department recently filed a case against Illinois, Chicago, and other municipalities claiming local laws hindered stricter immigration law enforcement during the Trump presidency.
In the early Trump administration days, Emil Bove, Bondi’s then-deputy, advised federal prosecutors across the nation to prioritize upholding Trump’s immigration policies, including potentially prosecuting non-compliant state or local officials.
During a Thursday press session, Bondi also addressed questions about Elon Musk’s criticisms of judiciary decisions overturning Trump’s policies. Musk, leading government efficiency initiatives, called for the dismissal of federal judges due to their rulings.
Bondi, however, mentioned she hadn’t reviewed Musk’s statements but stated plans to appeal the unfavorable judicial decisions, clarifying that impeachment remains off the agenda for the time being.
