The Justice Department has initiated a lawsuit against the state of New York, its Governor Kathy Hochul, and Attorney General Letitia James over matters related to immigration enforcement, as announced by Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday.
Bondi emphasized their mission to safeguard Americans, stating, “New York has decided to give preference to illegal immigrants over American citizens.” She also mentioned, “We’ve already taken action against Illinois, and now it’s New York’s turn.”
Letitia James responded to the lawsuit by stating, “Our state laws, including the Green Light law, are designed to protect the rights of New Yorkers and ensure the safety of our communities.” She reaffirmed her commitment to defending these laws robustly.
Bondi criticized New York officials for alerting undocumented individuals when federal authorities inquire about their immigration status. This practice was among the allegations listed in the federal complaint, with Bondi asserting that such state laws obstruct both federal and state law enforcement efforts concerning immigration.
Governor Hochul described Bondi’s news conference as mere “smoke and mirrors” and characterized the lawsuit as a simple civil case involving a law from 2019, which has repeatedly been upheld by judicial rulings. She stressed her commitment to protecting New Yorkers’ personal data from unrestrained federal access.
Governor Hochul confidently predicted that Bondi’s litigation would not succeed and reaffirmed New York’s stance on this issue as unyielding.
While New York City’s Mayor, Eric Adams, was not directly involved in this legal action, the Justice Department noted that it had limited Mayor Adams’ ability to adequately focus on addressing illegal immigration and violent crime, which emerged during former President Joe Biden’s tenure. As a result, an investigation into his office has been temporarily paused.
Bondi expressed optimism that Mayor Adams might eventually cooperate on matters concerning sanctuary cities and illegal immigration policies.
During the conference, Tammy Nobles, whose daughter was tragically murdered by a member of the MS-13 gang from El Salvador, shared her heartbreaking story.
Upon assuming her role, Bondi issued directives targeting sanctuary jurisdictions and demanded they cease funding those that obstruct federal law enforcement efforts. She advocated for taking action against states or cities that fail to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement requirements.
A departmental memorandum insisted that “State and local jurisdictions must comply with applicable immigration-related federal laws,” and warned against actions that impede or obstruct federal directives.
Bondi’s focus extended to cartels and international crime organizations, with plans for their complete eradication. She emphasized that addressing illegal drug trafficking would require additional resources and strategic approaches.
Last week, the Justice Department had already lodged a lawsuit against Illinois, Chicago, and other localities, alleging that their practices hindered the Trump administration’s efforts to enforce immigration guidelines more stringently.
Early in the Trump administration, Emil Bove, Bondi’s acting deputy, urged federal prosecutors to prioritize enforcing immigration policies, even suggesting potential charges against those who hindered such efforts.
During the recent press conference, Bondi was also questioned about Elon Musk, who harbored criticisms against judges for overturning the Trump administration’s measures. While Bondi hadn’t reviewed Musk’s statements, she noted that the administration intended to challenge adverse rulings and that impeachment was not currently under consideration.
