A federal judge on Tuesday turned back the Trump administration’s challenge to New York’s “Green Light Law,” a state policy that lets residents obtain standard driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status.
Why It Matters
New York’s Green Light Law—allowing people to apply for driver’s licenses without proving legal status—has long been a point of friction between state-level policy and federal immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump.
What to Know
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Anne M. Nardacci ruled against the White House and upheld the Green Light Law. The Justice Department (DOJ) had argued that the measure interfered with federal immigration enforcement.
Nardacci, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, found the administration did not sufficiently support its claim that the law violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which gives federal law priority over conflicting state actions, ABC News reported.
The law allows any New Yorker age 16 or older to apply for a standard, non-federal, non-commercial driver’s license or learner permit, regardless of citizenship or immigration status.
People who have never been assigned a Social Security number are eligible under the law, which took effect in 2019. It does not apply to non-driver ID cards or commercial licenses.
The measure also includes privacy protections that limit data sharing—including with agencies involved in immigration enforcement—and requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to notify license holders when such agencies request their information.
ABC News reported that, in her 23-page opinion, Nardacci emphasized that her task was not to weigh whether the Green Light Law is good policy, but to determine whether it unlawfully intrudes on federal authority. She concluded the administration had “failed to state such a claim.”
The DOJ lawsuit, filed in February, targeted provisions that limit federal authorities’ access to New York driver’s license records and require the state to notify individuals who are in the country illegally if federal immigration agencies request their information. The administration also argued that these limits could pose safety concerns for immigration enforcement officers.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James, both Democrats, were named as defendants.
What People Are Saying
New York Attorney General Letitia James wrote in a post on X on Tuesday: “A federal judge has dismissed DOJ’s baseless lawsuit against New York’s Green Light Law.
“As I said from the start, our laws protect the rights of all New Yorkers and keep our communities safe. I will always stand up for New Yorkers and the rule of law.”
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said earlier this year: “New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops today.
Bondi added: “If you don’t comply with federal law, we will hold you accountable.”
Hector Garza, vice president of the National Border Patrol Council, told Fox News Digital in February: “Any information that can help law enforcement stay safe as they conduct their duties has pretty much been taken away with this Green Light Law.”
What Happens Next
The ruling leaves New York’s Green Light Law in place.
