Governor, New York AG, DMV Commissioner Named As Defendants
By Hank Russell
In an effort to crack down on illegal immigration, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi has announced that she has filed a lawsuit against the state of New York. The suit contends that the state has flouted federal immigration law and protected illegal aliens at the expense of its citizens.
Among those named as defendants in the suit are Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James and Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Mark Schroeder.
Flanked by federal law enforcement and Angel moms — mothers of children who were killed by an illegal immigrant — Bondi held a press conference on February 12 to announce that charges will be filed against Hochul, James and Schroeder. She said she will hold them accountable for their actions.
“President [Donald] Trump has directed this to stop,” said Bondi, who previously served as Florida’s attorney general. “If you don’t comply with federal law, we will hold you accountable. We did it to Illinois — strike one. Strike two is New York. If you are a state not complying with federal law, you’re next. Get ready.”
Bondi emphasized that “this is a new DOJ [Department of Justice]” whose top priority is to “protect America and protect Americans.”
“New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens,” Bondi continued. “It stops. It stops today.”
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Trump ally, took to social media to praise Bondi. “The residents of New York State owe a debt of gratitude to Attorney General Pam Bondi for enforcing the rule of law that many of our elected officials here have ignored and thereby violated their oath of office,” he posted.
Hochul and James shot back at Bondi. Hochul called the lawsuit “smoke and mirrors,” “worthless” and “publicity-driven.”
“Our state laws, including the Green Light law, protect the rights of all New Yorkers and keep our communities safe,” James added. “I am prepared to defend our laws, just as I always have.”
Hochul emphasized that state law allows federal immigration officials to access any DMV database, as long as they have a warrant. “But there’s no way I’m letting federal agents, or Elon Musk’s shadowy DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency] 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.”
She also said the state opens itself to “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.”
Hochul said she will fight the lawsuit and the charges against her. “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.”