Judge green lights New York's driver's license law, rejecting a Trump administration challenge

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: ABC News/AP

December 23, 2025, 8:15 PM


NEW YORK -- A federal judge gave a green light Tuesday to New York’s so-called Green Light Law, rejecting the Trump administration’s bid to stop the state from giving people driver's licenses without having them prove they are in the country legally.

U.S. District Judge Anne M. Nardacci in Albany ruled that the Republican administration — which challenged the law under President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration — had failed to support its claims that the state law usurps federal law or that it unlawfully regulates or unlawfully discriminates against the federal government.

The Justice Department sued the state over the law in February, naming Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state’s attorney general, Letitia James, as defendants. At a news conference announcing the lawsuit, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi accused the officials, both Democrats, of prioritizing “illegal aliens over American citizens.”

“As I said from the start, our laws protect the rights of all New Yorkers and keep our communities safe,” James said in a statement Friday. “I will always stand up for New Yorkers and the rule of law.” A message seeking comment was left for the Justice Department.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-green-lights-new-yorks-drivers-license-law-128667860

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Link to ORDER (PDF) - https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nynd.146851/gov.uscourts.nynd.146851.32.0.pdf

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Consider this:

The same federal judge doesn't reject the Trump administration’s bid to stop the state from giving people driver's licenses without having them prove they are in the country legally.

You're driving within the boundaries of New York State.

And you inadvertently are involved in a motor vehicle accident with an undocumented immigrant with no driver's license -- and no auto liability insurance. (Because you can't get car insurance without a driver's license and registration.) And this immigrant is borrowing someone else's car or is driving an unregistered vehicle. You get the idea.

Your car is damaged or totaled. You're hospitalized for minor injuries -- or severe disability.

And maybe the driver of the other vehicle fled (hit-and-run) before the police arrive. Even if the other driver stayed at the sight of the accident, you're screwed. They have no insurance, perhaps own nothing of value. Hell, you may not be able to get an accurate identity of the other driver.

And there would be lots of these drivers on the road. The courts would be flooded (best case scenario) or a multitude of hapless drivers would be disabled and/or bankrupt.

If the judge had ruled in favor of the Trump DOJ.

[FakeNoose]

2. In Pennsylvania we have "no fault" insurance to cover this type of problem

My drivers insurance covers me (including injuries and damage to vehicle) if I'm involved in an accident with an uninsured driver. Whether they have a license or US passport is irrelevant - they are uninsured and my expenses are covered by my own insurance no-fault policy.

I thought New York drivers had the same type of coverage, but maybe not....