Alright, folks, let’s break this down because things are heating up—big time. Attorney General Pam Bondi came out swinging on Wednesday, announcing that the Justice Department is suing New York over its sanctuary policies that shield illegal immigrants from deportation. And she wasn’t mincing words.
“This is a new DOJ, and we are taking steps to protect Americans,” Bondi declared, in a no-nonsense tone that left no room for misinterpretation. In other words, New York is about to get a legal reality check, and it’s coming straight from the top.
Now, this all ties back to a broader federal push to crack down on states that prioritize illegal immigrants over their own citizens. Bondi made it crystal clear: Illinois was the first to get hit, and now New York is next. And if other states think they can keep sidestepping federal law, well, they might want to start prepping their legal teams now.
The lawsuit specifically takes aim at New York’s top officials—Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, and DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder. Why? Because of a controversial law that severely restricts federal immigration authorities from accessing state DMV data on illegal immigrants.
But here’s the real kicker—New York’s law has something called a “tip-off” provision. And what does that mean? It means that if federal immigration agencies request information on an illegal immigrant, the New York DMV is legally required to notify that person. Let that sink in. Federal authorities try to enforce the law, and New York gives the individual in question a heads-up.
Bondi wasn’t having it. “It’s tipping off an illegal alien,” she said. “And it’s unconstitutional, and that’s why we filed this lawsuit.” And if you thought she was stopping at just calling it unconstitutional, think again. She went on to say that these policies enable violent criminals, gang members, drug traffickers, and human smugglers to continue their operations unchecked.
Now, this isn’t happening in a vacuum. Just six days before this lawsuit, the federal government took legal action against Illinois and Chicago for similar sanctuary policies. This is a pattern, and Bondi made it abundantly clear that the Justice Department isn’t stopping at just two states.
“We don’t want to sue you,” she said. “We don’t want to prosecute people. We want people to comply with the law.”
🚨 #BREAKING: AG Pam Bondi has just announced she has CHARGED NY Gov. Kathy Hochul and Letitia James for failing to enforce immigration law
THROW THEM IN HANDCUFFS AND LOCK THEM UP!
An example MUST be set! pic.twitter.com/EPsnyVxESj
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 12, 2025
And here’s where things get even more interesting—Governor Hochul is set to meet with President Trump on Thursday. What’s on the agenda? That remains to be seen, but given the timing, it’s safe to say that immigration and New York’s sanctuary policies will be front and center.
Stay tuned, folks. This fight is just getting started.
