Trump administration sues New York officials over "sanctuary" policies
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Attorney General Pam Bondi walks to the West Wing after an interview on FOX News on Feb. 12, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Wednesday that the Justice Department is suing New York state officials, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, for policies that allegedly limit cooperation with immigration authorities.
The big picture: Mass deportations were a central focus of President Trump's campaign, and aggressive immigration raids and detainments have marked his first few weeks in office.
- The New York lawsuit, along with a similar one in Illinois, puts legal pressure on immigration-friendly states as Trump seeks to fulfill his vows of mass deportations.
Driving the news: Bondi said the DOJ is also suing state Attorney General Letitia James and DMV chief Mark Schroeder, claiming they are prioritizing "illegal aliens over American citizens."
- "This is a new DOJ," she said at a press conference. "New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops. It stops today."
What they're saying: A spokesperson for Hochul, Avi Small, said in a statement Wednesday evening the governor "has been clear from day one: she supports deporting violent criminals who break our laws, believes that law-abiding families should not be targets, and will coordinate with federal authorities who have a judicial warrant."
- Small added the governor's office couldn't "comment further on a press conference announcing a potential lawsuit that has not yet been filed in any court."
James responded in an emailed statement Wednesday evening, saying: "Our state laws, including the Green Light law, protect the rights of all New Yorkers and keep our communities safe. I am prepared to defend our laws, just as I always have."
State of play: The announcement follows the DOJ ordering the dismissal of bribery charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams earlier this week.
- Bondi said Wednesday she's hoping Adams "is going to cooperate with us with the sanctuary cities."
Zoom out: The New York suit comes after the Justice Department announced last week it's suing the city of Chicago, as well as Cook County and the state of Illinois over sanctuary laws that prohibit local law enforcement from aiding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in arresting undocumented immigrants.
- "As you know, we sued Illinois and New York didn't listen. So now you're next," Bondi said Wednesday.
Go deeper: DOJ moves to have NYC Mayor Eric Adams' charges dropped
Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from Attorney General Letitia James and Avi Small, a spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul.
