The Trump administration is trying to protect Americans. But the Democrat Party is getting in the way.
That’s why a lawyer has tipped off President Trump about how Democrats are creating secret illegal immigration sanctuaries.
The legal and political battle surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States has taken a significant turn as U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit against New York state. The lawsuit, filed as part of the Trump administration’s active crackdown on sanctuary policies, targets New York’s controversial “Green Light Law” and its “tip-off provision,” which critics argue undermines federal immigration enforcement efforts.
Enacted in 2019, New York’s Green Light Law allows residents aged 16 and older to apply for a standard driver’s license or learner’s permit regardless of their citizenship or legal status. The law includes privacy protections that restrict certain federal agencies, including those enforcing immigration laws, from accessing DMV records. A particularly contentious aspect of the law is the “tip-off provision,” which requires the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to notify undocumented immigrants if federal authorities request information about their status.
Attorney General Bondi has described this provision as unconstitutional, asserting that it actively obstructs federal immigration enforcement. “New York is actively tipping off illegal aliens,” Bondi said during a press conference. “It’s unconstitutional. It puts law enforcement at risk. And it ends today”.
Legal Experts Weigh In
Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, discussed the implications of this legal battle during an appearance on Fox News. He highlighted the unusual nature of the tip-off provision, stating, “You’re basically giving a tip-off to someone that we’re trying to apprehend”. Turley explained that this provision might face scrutiny under the Supreme Court’s anti-commandeering doctrine, which prevents the federal government from compelling states to enforce federal policies. However, he noted that actively undermining federal enforcement could make this case distinct in the eyes of the court.
“This is going to be a very interesting fight,” Turley said. “This is sort of smash-mouth litigation saying, ‘We’re at odds, and we’re going to have to resolve this in the courts.’” He added that the Trump administration is seeking judicial review to establish clear rules for federal-state interactions on immigration enforcement.
The lawsuit also raises questions about federal funding for states and cities with sanctuary policies. Turley argued that jurisdictions actively undermining federal efforts should not receive federal grants. “There is no reason, in my view, why the federal government has to give grants to jurisdictions that are actively undermining federal efforts,” he stated. Bondi echoed this sentiment during her press conference, emphasizing that states failing to comply with federal law could face financial penalties or restrictions on funding.
Sanctuary Cities Under Fire
New York and Chicago, both sanctuary cities, have committed to protecting undocumented immigrants despite intensified deportation efforts under President Donald Trump. Bondi pointed out that New York’s policies make it difficult for law enforcement officers to verify identities or criminal backgrounds during routine traffic stops, posing risks to public safety.
The DOJ lawsuit against New York follows similar legal action taken against Illinois. Bondi warned other states with sanctuary policies that they could be next if they fail to comply with federal law. “If you don’t comply with federal law, we will hold you accountable,” she said. Specifically, the U.S. Department of Justice had filed a lawsuit targeting Chicago and the state of Illinois, alleging that local officials are obstructing federal immigration enforcement efforts as part of Donald Trump’s campaign to intensify deportations.
The lawsuit, which lists Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson as defendants, aims to overturn local policies it claims “interfere with and discriminate against” federal immigration laws. Both Illinois and Chicago have positioned themselves as strong opponents of federal initiatives to detain and deport undocumented immigrants, creating friction with the Trump administration’s hardline stance on immigration.
In Illinois, the “Trust Act” bars local law enforcement from detaining individuals solely based on immigration detainers or warrants. It also prohibits local agencies from participating in immigration enforcement or sharing detainee information with federal authorities. Similarly, Chicago’s ordinance prevents city employees and agencies from assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents or granting them access to detainees or city facilities for investigative purposes.
The Justice Department contends that these measures “impede the Federal Government’s ability to regulate immigration and take enforcement actions against illegal aliens” and is seeking to have them struck down in court.
The press conference also featured Tammy Nobles, an Angel Mom whose daughter Kayla Hamilton was m*rdered in 2022 by an MS-13 gang member who had entered the U.S. illegally as an unaccompanied minor. Nobles criticized immigration policies for failing to properly vet individuals entering the country and called for stronger enforcement measures.
Both sides of the legal battle appear ready for a protracted legal fight that may ultimately reach the Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court, at this point, has not commented on any of the executive orders from Donald Trump that have been facing legal contentions in the lower court systems.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
