The US v NY and Its Green Light Law

On Thursday, Politico reported that New York’s Green Light Law was back in the news. US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced she was going to sue New York State, Governor Krazy Kat and NYAG Letitia James for not complying with federal immigration law.

 

The Green Light Law essentially blocks the Federal government and other entities from obtaining information on illegals who are registered with the New York DMV.

A little history on this law. In 2007, then-Governor Elliot Spitzer pushed for, and then signed, the law into effect. The only opponent? Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul.

Before she was appointed by Governor Spitzer, she had never won an elected office more prominent than a post on the Town of Hamburg’s board. Now that she’s being sued by AG Bondi, Krazy Kat is now positioned to be its most vocal champion.

“New York is proud that immigrants from across the globe come here searching for a better life, people like my grandparents who left Ireland looking for the American dream,” the now-governor said in response to Bondi’s announcement. “We welcome law-abiding individuals who want to work, pay taxes and contribute to our communities, while at the same time protecting the public safety of all New Yorkers by cracking down on violent criminals.”

The problem with her argument is two-fold. Her grandparents, like mine, came here legally, waiting for the Wheel of Fortune to spin and land on their number, and, they did not commit crimes after they got here. The government is looking for the illegals who have committed crimes.

The suit rests on statutory language that only allows the state to share information on licensees with immigration officials if there’s a court order or warrant. The DMV Green Light Law is REQUIRED to give the individuals a heads-up that their information has been sought.

“It’s tipping off an illegal alien, and it’s unconstitutional,” Bondi said on Wednesday. “That’s why we filed this lawsuit," said Bondi.

Hochul is digging in her heels and James is going all in too.

“That’s a common-sense approach that most New Yorkers support. 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.”

Until now, no one on the Federal side had the guts to challenge this law, which helped to make New York a “Sanctuary” State. The one-time opposition leader against this law is now the “Queen”, guarding the law-breakers. And James is her “Fool”. Let’s see how this plays for their reelection bids.

 Meanwhile, the law will be declared Unconstitutional by the Supreme Court and she will be forced to comply.