Bondi Files Legal Action Against Additional Sanctuary States and Cities
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the state of New York, Governor Kathy Hochul, and Attorney General Letitia James over immigration enforcement practices, as announced by Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday.
“We are taking action to protect Americans,” Bondi said, adding that “New York has chosen to prioritize illegal immigrants over American citizens.” Bondi emphasized that New York had ignored previous warnings, referencing a similar lawsuit filed against Illinois. “We sued Illinois, and New York didn’t listen. Now, you’re next,” she asserted.
In response, New York Attorney General Letitia James defended the state’s stance, stating, “Our state laws, including the Green Light Law, protect the rights of all New Yorkers and keep our communities safe.” She added, “As I have always done, I stand ready to defend our laws,” in a statement to CBS News New York.
Bondi’s lawsuit claims that New York officials are legally required to inform undocumented immigrants when federal authorities request information about their immigration status. She further argues that New York’s state laws unlawfully impede both federal and state law enforcement efforts to enforce immigration regulations.
Late Wednesday, Governor Hochul responded to the lawsuit, dismissing it as “smoke and mirrors.” She referred to the legal action as “a routine civil case concerning a law passed in 2019 that has been consistently upheld by the courts.” Hochul also expressed her firm stance against federal overreach, stating, “There’s no way I’m letting federal agents or Elon Musk’s shadowy DOGE operation get unfettered access to the personal data of any New Yorker, including 16-year-olds learning to drive and other vulnerable individuals.”
She continued, “Like all the others, we anticipate Pam Bondi’s pointless, publicity-driven lawsuit will be a complete failure. To be clear, New York is not going to back down.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Adams of New York City is not involved in the lawsuit. The Justice Department had indicated on Tuesday that the legal case had complicated Mayor Adams’ ability to address illegal immigration and violent crime in his city, particularly following the policies of former President Joe Biden. Prosecutors had temporarily paused their investigation into Adams’ office.
Bondi later commented on the case involving Mayor Adams, expressing her expectation that federal prosecutors would eventually drop the charges against him. “We’re hopeful that Mayor Adams will cooperate with us on issues regarding sanctuary cities and illegal immigration,” Bondi said.
During a press conference, Tammy Nobles, the mother of a woman murdered by an MS-13 gang member from El Salvador, shared her tragic story. Nobles’ remarks highlighted the need for enforcement of immigration laws, as Bondi issued directives to curb sanctuary jurisdictions that obstructed federal law enforcement. Bondi called for action against state or local governments that failed to cooperate with immigration enforcement, asserting that “state and local jurisdictions must comply with applicable immigration-related federal laws.”
Bondi’s department also focused on transnational criminal organizations in a separate memo, committing to the “total elimination” of cartels and emphasizing the need for additional resources and strategic decisions to combat illegal drug trafficking.
The Justice Department’s legal actions aren’t limited to New York. Just last week, the DOJ filed a lawsuit against the state of Illinois, the city of Chicago, and other local governments, claiming their laws hindered the Trump administration’s ability to enforce immigration policies. Bondi had previously instructed Justice Department prosecutors to prioritize immigration enforcement and indicated that charges could be brought against state or local officials obstructing federal efforts.
Additionally, Bondi addressed Elon Musk’s recent criticism of federal judges who have overturned actions by the Trump administration. Musk had called for the removal of these judges. While Bondi had not seen Musk’s comments, she stated that the administration would appeal those judicial rulings and made it clear that impeachment proceedings were not currently being considered.