Attorney General Pam Bondi Holds First Press Conference
"New York State Issues Driver's Licenses to Illegal Immigrants"
Obstructing Federal Law Enforcement... Vows Strong Response from Local Communities
Tammy Nobles is speaking alongside Pam Bondi, U.S. Attorney General, at a press conference held on the 12th (local time) at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. Nobles is the mother of Kayla Hamilton, who was killed by an illegal immigrant. / Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency
Pam Bondi, Attorney General of the second Trump administration, held her first official press conference on the 12th (local time) and announced that she had filed a civil lawsuit against the state of New York. The reason cited was that New York State was issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants in violation of federal immigration laws.
Attorney General Bondi stated that day, "New York leaders are prioritizing illegal immigrants over American citizens. The Department of Justice will strongly respond to communities that obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws," explaining the reason for filing the lawsuit.
Bondi criticized New York State's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for allowing the issuance of driver's licenses to illegal immigrants under the state law called the "Green Light Law." This law restricts sharing information with federal immigration authorities. She argued that such regulations hinder federal law enforcement.
The lawsuit targets included New York Governor Kathy Hochul, New York State Attorney General Letitia James, and New York State DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder. Attorney General James responded, saying, "'Green Light Law' has protected the rights of all New Yorkers and contributed to keeping communities safe," adding, "As always, we are ready to fight to uphold New York's laws."
At the press conference, Bondi was accompanied by Tammy Nobles, the mother of Kayla Hamilton, who was killed in 2022 by an MS-13 gang member known to be an illegal immigrant. Nobles claimed that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) failed to properly vet the perpetrator who killed her daughter, stating, "If DHS had done its job, it would have been revealed that he was a gang member, and my daughter would not have been killed."
The Washington Post (WP) reported, "Although this case is not directly related to the lawsuit announced by Attorney General Bondi, Bondi referred to Nobles as an 'Angel Mom,'" adding, "While 'Angel Mom' can refer to any mother who has lost a child, former President Trump and his supporters use the term specifically for parents who have lost children due to illegal immigrants."
The British daily The Independent noted, "Bondi's announcement of this lawsuit is interpreted as a signal of the Trump administration's determination to actively pursue anti-immigration policies."
Such legal battles are not unfamiliar to U.S. local governments. Previously, Attorney General Bondi filed lawsuits against the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago. These municipalities are known as "sanctuary cities," a nickname given because they provide refuge in opposition to the federal government's illegal immigrant deportation policies.
California, a Democratic-leaning state with pro-immigration policies, is also under scrutiny from the federal government. Los Angeles (LA), which has the largest immigrant population, officially became a sanctuary city last November through the passage of a city ordinance.
U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that he may consider cutting federal funding to sanctuary cities if they do not comply with his immigration orders. When Fox News anchor Sean Hannity asked on the 22nd of last month (local time) whether he was considering budget cuts, Trump replied, "That could happen."
Upon taking office, President Trump declared a national emergency concerning U.S. border security, signed numerous executive orders related to resuming border wall construction and strengthening screening of foreign entrants, and issued an executive order to halt refugee admissions for six months.
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