U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Wednesday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed lawsuits against the state of New York and several of its officials for failing to comply with federal immigration laws. The lawsuits mark the latest escalation in the Trump administration’s efforts to hold states and cities accountable for policies that it claims prioritize illegal immigrants over the safety of American citizens.
During a press conference, Bondi outlined the administration’s legal actions, which target New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, and Mark Schroeder, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
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Bondi accused New York of enacting policies that shield illegal immigrants from federal law enforcement, creating what she described as a dangerous environment for American citizens.
“New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops today,” Bondi declared. “Millions of illegal aliens with violent records have flooded into our communities, bringing violence and deadly drugs with them.”
The lawsuits follow similar actions taken against Illinois, which the DOJ sued earlier this year for its sanctuary policies. Bondi warned that other states defying federal immigration laws would face similar consequences.
“If you are a state not complying with federal law, you’re next. Get ready,” Bondi said.
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Bondi was joined at the press conference by Tammy Nobles, an “Angel Mom” whose daughter, Kayla Hamilton, was brutally murdered in 2022 by an MS-13 gang member who had entered the U.S. illegally. Nobles shared her family’s tragic story, highlighting systemic failures in the immigration system that allowed her daughter’s killer to enter and remain in the country.
“Kayla had just turned 20 years old when she was raped and murdered by someone who should not have been in our country,” Bondi said. “He was flagged as an MS-13 gang member with a criminal record in El Salvador, yet he was released and flown to Maryland, where he committed this horrific crime.”
Nobles criticized the Biden administration for its handling of the border crisis, which she said enabled her daughter’s killer to enter the U.S. and evade detection. She vowed to continue sharing Kayla’s story to raise awareness and prevent similar tragedies.
“No other parents should suffer the way I have,” Nobles said. “This is going to end.”
Bondi also took aim at New York’s “Green Light Law,” which allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses while restricting law enforcement’s access to their immigration status and criminal backgrounds. She argued that the law endangers both citizens and law enforcement officers by preventing them from identifying potentially dangerous individuals during routine stops.
“Law enforcement officers do not have access to their background, and if these great men and women pull over someone and don’t have access to their background, they have no idea who they’re dealing with,” Bondi said. “It puts their lives on the line every single day.”
Bondi was flanked by representatives from federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA, and ATF, who she said risk their lives daily to protect Americans from gang violence, drug trafficking, and human smuggling.
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The lawsuits against New York are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to enforce federal immigration laws and hold sanctuary jurisdictions accountable. Bondi emphasized that the DOJ would not hesitate to take legal action against any state or city that defies federal law.
“If you do not follow federal law, you will be held accountable,” Bondi said. “It’s over. It ends, and we’re coming after you.”
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