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Federal Judge Dismisses DOJ Challenge to New York’s ‘Green Light Law’

The ruling says the administration failed to show federal law preempts New York’s DMV privacy limits.

Overview

  • U.S. District Judge Anne M. Nardacci in Albany threw out the case, finding the Trump administration did not plausibly establish Supremacy Clause or discrimination claims.
  • The opinion notes no federal statute compels New York to share DMV data with immigration authorities and says records remain accessible through court orders or warrants.
  • The Justice Department sued in February under Attorney General Pam Bondi, targeting provisions that curb routine data sharing and require notice when immigration agencies request records.
  • Enacted in 2019, the Green Light Law lets applicants without Social Security numbers use foreign passports or licenses to obtain standard, non‑commercial licenses after required testing, excluding commercial licenses.
  • The decision came during a week of broader legal setbacks for the administration over state‑federal immigration disputes, and the Justice Department declined to comment on this ruling.