Attorney General Challenges New York's "Green Light Law": controversy ensues over the policy that permits drivers without valid immigration papers to apply for licenses.
In a bold move, the U.S. Department of Justice has announced it'll toe the line with New York State, filing a lawsuit against the state's immigration policies, including the "Green Light Law." Kathy Hochul, the current Governor of New York and a defendant in this suit, remains confident in the policy's legality.
Based on reports by CBS News, New York's "Green Light Law" allows undocumented immigrants to apply for state driver's licenses without providing a Social Security number. Instead, they can offer alternative forms of ID, like foreign driver's licenses or passports. However, they still need to pass a road test to earn their license.
According to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, the policy is detrimental, stating, "New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops. It stops today." The DOJ argues that the policy impedes federal immigration enforcement, provides cover for undocumented immigrants with criminal records, and puts law enforcement in potentially dangerous situations.
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the "Green Light Law" into effect in 2019, aiming to enhance road safety by making it simpler for undocumented motorists to secure car insurance. Today, about 19 other states have similar laws in place.
New York's law also disallows certain state agencies from sharing motorist records with immigration authorities. On its website, the New York Department of Motor Vehicles explains, "The law provides a number of privacy protections that limit data sharing, including to agencies that primarily enforce immigration laws, and requires disclosure to the license holders when immigration enforcement agencies request data from DMV."
Hochul, refuting Bondi's claims, declares, "Our current laws allow federal immigration officials to access any DMV database with a judicial warrant. That's a common-sense approach that most New Yorkers support." She further added, "But there's no way I'm letting federal agents, or Elon Musk's shadowy DOGE operation, get unfettered access to the personal data of any New Yorker in the DMV system like 16-year-old kids learning to drive and other vulnerable people."
The New York Attorney General Letitia James also stated that her office is prepared to defend the state in court, asserting, "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."
The U.S. Department of Justice, through the lawsuit, aims to challenge the immigration policy-and-legislation of New York State, specifically the "Green Light Law," which is part of the general-news Headlines. New York's Governor, Kathy Hochul, defends the legality of the policy, arguing that it maintains a balanced approach between federal immigration enforcement and the privacy rights of its citizens, highlighting the ongoing politics surrounding the issue.
