WASHINGTON (AP) — Following her appointment, Attorney General Pam Bondi has taken aim at New York’s immigration policies, unveiling a lawsuit that reflects the Republican administration’s commitment to fulfilling President Trump’s stringent immigration agenda.

During her inaugural press briefing since assuming office last week, Bondi accused New York leaders of favoring “illegal immigrants over American citizens.” Surrounded by federal agents involved in Trump’s immigration enforcement initiatives, she reiterated the president’s statements, asserting that the Justice Department will challenge communities resisting federal immigration enforcement.

The lawsuit targets New York Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Kathy Hochul for a state law permitting individuals without legal status to obtain driver’s licenses. This so-called Green Light Law was introduced primarily to improve road safety, as it allows unlicensed individuals to drive legally and obtain car insurance, thereby reducing incidents involving uninsured motorists.

The lawsuit characterizes this legislation as “a direct assault on federal immigration laws and the agencies that enforce them.” It points out a requirement that mandates the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles commissioner to notify individuals who are in the country illegally when their information has been requested by a federal immigration agency. The Justice Department is seeking a court ruling to invalidate the law.

Bondi stated, “This is a new DOJ, and we are taking action to safeguard Americans,” with agents from the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration standing behind her. “Our communities have been inundated with millions of illegal immigrants with violent histories, bringing chaos and dangerous drugs.”

Such politically charged language, typically avoided by the DOJ, raises concerns regarding Bondi’s potential use of the agency for political ends, particularly against adversaries like James, who has repeatedly opposed Trump, including a civil fraud case that could cost him nearly $500 million.

Responding to the lawsuit, James emphasized her readiness to defend New York’s regulations, which she claims “uphold the rights of all New Yorkers and contribute to community safety.”

Hochul added that New York is a welcoming state for “law-abiding individuals who want to work, contribute to society, and help maintain the safety of all New Yorkers by combating violent crime.”

“We expect Pam Bondi’s misguided, publicity-seeking lawsuit to be unsuccessful, just like her previous attempts. Let me be clear: New York will not yield,” the governor declared.

Bondi shared the stage with Tammy Nobles, whose daughter Kayla was tragically killed in July 2022 by an individual from El Salvador who had entered the U.S. illegally just months prior. The suspect, then aged 16, was released to other relatives in pursuit of asylum, a common procedure under U.S. laws. Reports also indicated the assailant had been linked to the notorious MS-13 gang in El Salvador.

As a means of highlighting his administration’s immigration policies, Trump often cites “angel moms” like Nobles, who have faced the painful loss of loved ones at the hands of individuals in the country illegally.

Bondi remarked, “Tammy represents not just herself but all the courageous angel moms across the nation who have suffered due to the failures of the Biden administration. This must end.”

This lawsuit comes shortly after the Justice Department filed a suit against Chicago, alleging its “sanctuary laws” hinder federal immigration enforcement efforts.

Previously, in 2020, the Trump administration pressured New York to amend its law by restricting residents’ participation in trusted traveler programs, causing longer security wait times at airports. Then-Governor Andrew Cuomo had offered to restore limited access to federal driving records but refused to allow immigration agents access to information on special licenses for undocumented immigrants. Eventually, a brief legal dispute led to the restoration of New Yorkers’ access to the trusted traveler program.

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Contributions made by AP reporters Elliot Spagat in San Diego, Eric Tucker in Washington, and Michael R. Sisak in New York.