WASHINGTON — U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said on Wednesday the Department of Justice is taking legal action against the state of New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James and New York Department of Motor Vehicles commissioner Mark Schroeder.

“New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops today,” Bondi said during a press conference Wednesday afternoon, moments after swearing in Tulsi Gabbard as the country’s new national intelligence director. “As you know, we sued Illinois and New York didn’t listen, so now you’re next.”

What You Need To Know

  • U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Department of Justice its taking legal action against the state of New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James and New York Department of Motor Vehicles commissioner Mark Schroeder

  • The Justice Department's move come six days after the Trump administration filed a lawsuit against the state of Illinois, the city of Chicago and their leaders, seeking to end their ability to provide sanctuary for illegal immigrants

  • Bondi also cited New York's so-called Green Light Law that prevents federal immigration enforcement from being able to access information the state DMV has on immigrants without legal status

  • Hochul is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday

The Justice Department's move come six days after the Trump administration filed a lawsuit against the state of Illinois, the city of Chicago and their leaders, seeking to end their ability to provide sanctuary for illegal immigrants.

Chicago and New York are among dozens of so-called sanctuary cities around the country that either limit or refuse to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation.

Bondi also cited New York's so-called Green Light Law that prevents federal immigration enforcement from being able to access information the state DMV has on immigrants without legal status. The law allows the DMV to issue standard driver’s licenses to individuals without Social Security numbers and "regardless of their citizenship or lawful status in the United States."

“Violent criminals, gang members, drug traffickers, human smugglers will no longer terrorize the American people, and that is why we are here today,” Bondi said.

Bondi said any other state or city that does not follow federal immigration law will be charged next.

“We don’t want to sue you,” she said. “We don’t want to prosecute people. We want people to comply with the law.”

In a statement responding to the lawsuit, James said she is “prepared to defend” the law.

“Our state laws, including the Green Light law, protect the rights of all New Yorkers and keep our communities safe. I am prepared to defend our laws, just as I always have,” she wrote.

Hochul was originally scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, but a source tells Spectrum News late Wednesday that she "has decided to postpone her meeting with the president until next week."

Avi Small, the governor's spokesperson, tweeted a statement from Hochul Wednesday night, saying, in part, "We expect Pam Bondi's worthless, publicity-driven lawsuit to be a total failure, just like all the others. Let me be clear: New York is not backing down."

Spectrum News' Bernadette Hogan contributed to this report.