In a major victory for the Trump Administration — and conservatives across America — Attorney General Pam Bondi has sued the state of New York and its top Democrat politicians over the “Green Light” Law, a bill signed by Andrew Cuomo in 2019 that granted driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.
For context, the “Green Light” law was passed by the New York State Legislature in June 2019, and it was immediately a lightning rod for controversy. Furthermore, the bill was signed by Andrew Cuomo, whose career as governor of New York was tarnished by scandal and ended with his resignation in 2021. Following the bill’s signing, it took effect on December 16, 2019, and has been in effect ever since.
When the lawsuit was announced, AG Bondi made a public statement that confirmed that the DOJ was suing the state of New York for its adoption of the “Green Light” bill. Refusing to hold back, Bondi chastised New York for choosing “to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens.” She added, “It stops today. As you know, we sued Illinois, and New York didn’t listen. So now, you’re next.”
Continuing her statement, Bondi doubled down, saying, “President Trump has directed this to stop. And 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.” Furthermore, Bondi described the law as “tipping off an illegal alien,” adding that it is “unconstitutional.”
Additionally, a formal complaint filed by the Department of Justice on February 12, 2025, stated that the United States is “currently facing a crisis of illegal immigration,” adding, “A state’s freedom to stand aside is not a freedom to stand in the way.” Doubling down, the complaint stated, “Where inaction crosses into obstruction, a state breaks the law. The State of New York is doing just that. I must be stopped.”
Following its announcement in mid-February, AG Bondi’s lawsuit against the state of New York has been widely praised by conservatives, including in the press. On February 19, 2025, The New York Post’s Betsy McCaughey speculated that the DOJ will win, calling her case a “slam dunk” and arguing that “Bondi can counter that local and state authorities are not just sitting on their hands; they are actively working to defeat federal law.”
However, the state of New York has predictably fought the lawsuit. A rebuttal statement issued on February 12, 2025, Governor Hochul fiercely pushed back against AG Bondi, saying she “marched in front of the television cameras for a dramatic media briefing to announce she was filing charges against New York State related to our immigration laws.” Continuing, Hochul called DOGE “shadowy” and said that New York is “proud that immigrants from across the globe come here searching for a better life.”Concluding her statement, Governor Hochul was dismissive of AG Bondi’s lawsuit, saying, “”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.”
Watch AG Bondi announce the litigation against New York