A federal judge on Tuesday reportedly cleared the way for New York’s controversial “Green Light Law,” rejecting the Trump administration’s effort to block the state from issuing driver’s licenses without requiring proof of legal immigration status.
U.S. District Judge Anne M. Nardacci ruled that the Justice Department failed to substantiate its claims that the law violates federal authority or unlawfully interferes with immigration enforcement. The DOJ had sued New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James earlier this year, arguing the statute undermines federal immigration law and obstructs enforcement efforts.
Nardacci concluded that the administration did not meet the legal standard required to invalidate the state law under the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, which holds that federal law overrides state law when the two conflict. “The administration has failed to state such a claim,” she wrote, emphasizing that her role was not to judge the wisdom of the policy, but to determine whether it is unconstitutional.
Attorney General James welcomed the ruling, saying the law protects New Yorkers and enhances public safety. “As I said from the start, our laws protect the rights of all New Yorkers and keep our communities safe,” James said. “I will always stand up for New Yorkers and the rule of law.”
The Trump administration has argued the opposite. When announcing the lawsuit, Attorney General Pam Bondi said New York officials were putting “illegal aliens over American citizens.” A central concern raised by the DOJ is that the law restricts federal immigration agents from accessing certain driving records during routine traffic stops, potentially hindering efforts to identify and remove illegal immigrants.
Known formally as the Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act, the Green Light Law was enacted in 2019. Supporters argue it improves road safety by encouraging unlicensed drivers to take road tests, obtain insurance, and comply with traffic laws. Under the statute, individuals without a valid Social Security number may apply for a standard driver’s license using alternative identification, such as a foreign passport or a driver’s license issued by another country. Applicants must still obtain a learner’s permit and pass a road test.
The law does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses.
The DOJ’s lawsuit described the statute as “a frontal assault on the federal immigration laws,” pointing to a provision requiring the state Department of Motor Vehicles to notify individuals when federal immigration agencies request their information. The administration argued that unrestricted access to New York’s driver data would make it easier to carry out federal immigration enforcement.
The law drew renewed scrutiny after a deadly incident in Vermont earlier this year, when a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent was killed near the Canadian border following a traffic stop involving a German national. Critics said the case underscored the risks of limiting law enforcement access to driver information.
“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,” Hector Garza, vice president of the National Border Patrol Council, told Fox News Digital at the time. He said officers typically rely on vehicle registration checks to determine whether a driver has warrants or poses a danger.
Judge Nardacci, however, echoed a previous appeals court ruling, noting that such information “remains available to federal immigration authorities” through lawful court orders or judicial warrants.
New York is one of roughly a dozen states that allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. The ruling marks a setback for the Trump administration’s broader effort to challenge state policies it argues weaken immigration enforcement and public safety.
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