Overview
- U.S. District Judge Anne M. Nardacci in Albany tossed the Justice Department’s case on Dec. 23, leaving New York’s 2019 law in place.
- The ruling says federal immigration authorities can still obtain DMV information through a court order or judicial warrant.
- The Justice Department had argued federal law preempted New York’s statute and sought to block its enforcement, then declined comment after the decision.
- The Green Light Law allows standard licenses regardless of immigration status, accepts alternative identification, and was enacted to improve road safety and insurance coverage.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the lawsuit in February, which highlighted a provision requiring the DMV to notify certain applicants when a federal immigration agency requests their information.