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Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Wednesday that the Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the state of New York, Governor Kathy Hochul, and state Attorney General Letitia James, accusing them of obstructing federal immigration enforcement efforts.
During a press conference, Bondi asserted that New York’s policies prioritize undocumented immigrants over American citizens, mirroring allegations in a similar lawsuit against Illinois last week.
“We are taking steps to protect Americans,” Bondi said. “New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. We sued Illinois, and New York didn’t listen, so now, you’re next.”
Federal Complaint Targets New York’s Sanctuary Policies
The lawsuit accuses New York officials of unlawfully restricting cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Specifically, Bondi claimed that state laws require officials to notify undocumented immigrants when federal agents seek information about their immigration status.
The complaint further alleges that New York’s sanctuary policies prevent both state and federal law enforcement from carrying out immigration-related operations, a direct challenge to the Biden-era policies that limited federal intervention in local jurisdictions.
Tammy Nobles, a mother whose daughter was murdered by an MS-13 gang member from El Salvador, joined Bondi at the press conference to highlight the alleged dangers of lax immigration enforcement.
New York City’s Mayor Adams Not Included in Lawsuit
While the lawsuit targets state leadership, it notably omits New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The Justice Department announced Tuesday that it was pausing its investigation into Adams’ office, citing concerns that the case was hampering his ability to focus on the city’s illegal immigration and violent crime issues.
“We’re hoping that in New York, that Mayor Adams is going to cooperate with us on the sanctuary cities and the illegal aliens,” Bondi said. She later added that while the case against Adams had not been dismissed yet, she expected federal prosecutors to drop the charges soon.
Bondi Expands Crackdown on Sanctuary Cities
In her first actions as attorney general, Bondi issued a sweeping directive cutting federal funding to sanctuary cities and states that “unlawfully interfere with federal law enforcement operations.” Her order warns that any state or local jurisdiction failing to comply with federal immigration directives could face legal consequences.
“State and local jurisdictions must comply with applicable immigration-related federal laws,” one of Bondi’s memos stated. “State and local actors may not impede, obstruct, or otherwise fail to comply with lawful immigration-related directives.”
In a separate memo, Bondi outlined plans to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations, stating that additional resources would be dedicated to dismantling illegal drug trafficking networks. She described the initiative as an effort toward the “total elimination” of these organizations.
Bondi Responds to Elon Musk’s Criticism of Judges
During the press conference, Bondi was also asked about Elon Musk’s recent comments advocating for the impeachment of federal judges who have ruled against Trump administration policies. Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency, has been vocal about his frustrations with the judiciary.
While Bondi said she had not seen Musk’s comments, she clarified that impeachment efforts were “not on the table at this time” but reaffirmed that the administration would continue appealing court rulings that blocked its immigration policies.
The lawsuit against New York marks the latest escalation in the Trump administration’s aggressive crackdown on sanctuary policies, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal battle over federal immigration enforcement.
