In a move that intensifies the standoff between the federal government and Democratic-led states, US President Donald Trump’s administration has filed a lawsuit against New York, accusing the state of obstructing federal immigration enforcement. The lawsuit, announced on Wednesday, claims that New York’s policies are shielding undocumented migrants from deportation, directly defying federal law.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, speaking at a press conference, warned that New York’s resistance to federal immigration policies would no longer be tolerated. “We sued Illinois and New York didn’t listen,” Bondi stated. “New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops today. If you don’t comply with federal law, we will hold you accountable. And if you are a state not complying with federal law, you’re next.”
The lawsuit comes just days after the Justice Department filed a similar case against Illinois and the city of Chicago, both of which have adopted sanctuary policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Trump, who made immigration enforcement a cornerstone of his 2024 presidential campaign, has pledged to carry out what he calls the largest deportation operation in US history.
At the heart of the administration’s legal challenge is New York’s refusal to allow local law enforcement officers to check the residency status of individuals during routine stops. Bondi argued that such policies endanger public safety, as officers “have no idea who they’re dealing with” when they pull someone over for a traffic violation. Additionally, she criticized a New York Department of Motor Vehicles “tipoff provision,” which allegedly alerts undocumented immigrants when federal agencies request their records.
“It’s unconstitutional, and that’s why we filed this lawsuit,” Bondi declared. To illustrate the stakes, she was joined at the press conference by a woman whose 20-year-old daughter was murdered by a member of the MS-13 gang—someone Bondi claimed should never have been allowed to remain in the United States. “No other parents should suffer by having their child murdered by somebody that shouldn’t be here,” she said.
The Trump administration argues that sanctuary cities and states provide safe havens for undocumented migrants with criminal backgrounds. “Millions of illegal aliens with violent records have flooded into our communities, bringing violence and deadly drugs with them,” Bondi asserted. However, research has consistently shown that US citizens commit more crimes per capita than undocumented migrants, a point Trump’s critics emphasize when challenging his immigration policies.
Since taking office, Trump has taken a hardline stance on immigration, declaring a “national emergency” at the southern border and signing an executive order that brands undocumented migrants as “significant threats to national security and public safety.” The order also claims that sanctuary policies expose innocent Americans to potential criminal activity.
This lawsuit signals the administration’s escalating legal battle against Democratic strongholds that refuse to align with federal immigration enforcement. With New York now in the crosshairs, other sanctuary states and cities could soon face similar legal action as Trump moves to fulfill his campaign promise of mass deportations.
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