Civil Rights Groups Demand Dismissal of DOJ Lawsuit Against NY License Law for All, Including Undocumented Immigrants

A coalition of national Latino and civil rights organizations has joined forces to challenge a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit against New York’s 2019 Green Light Law. The coalition—including LatinoJustice PRLDEF, the Hispanic Federation, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), the Rural & Migrant Ministry, and Make the Road New York (MTRNY)—filed an amicus curiae brief in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York. The lawsuit, The United States of America v. State of New York et al., targets the law, which grants all state residents the right to obtain a standard driver’s license regardless of immigration status and restricts federal access to DMV data without a warrant. Defendants include New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, and DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder.

The coalition argues that the DOJ’s lawsuit undermines New York’s authority to protect residents’ privacy and ensure equal access to driver’s licenses. They warn that the case could transform the licensing process—designed to be immigration-neutral—into one with significant immigration consequences. The Green Light Law enhances public safety by allowing more drivers to obtain licenses while safeguarding privacy by limiting federal agencies’ access to DMV records without a court order. This protection ensures license-holders’ reasonable expectation that their data will not be disclosed without due process.

Lourdes M. Rosado, President and General Counsel of LatinoJustice PRLDEF, called the lawsuit a politically motivated attack on New York’s right to govern and a tactic to target immigrant communities. Frankie Miranda of the Hispanic Federation emphasized the law’s role in promoting road safety by ensuring all drivers complete proper licensing procedures. Murad Awawdeh of NYIC condemned the DOJ’s challenge as an assault on public safety, noting that the law ensures accountability by requiring all drivers to meet licensing standards. Harold Solis of Make the Road New York argued that the lawsuit seeks to instill fear in immigrant communities, while Juana Cortes de Torres of the Rural & Migrant Ministry highlighted the law’s transformative impact, enabling rural and migrant families to access essential services.

The DOJ’s lawsuit, filed on February 12, 2025, alleges that the Green Light Law violates the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause by obstructing federal immigration enforcement. The law, enacted in 2019, allows undocumented immigrants to apply for licenses and imposes strict privacy protections, including warrant requirements for federal access to DMV records and mandatory notifications to license-holders if their data is requested. The DOJ claims these provisions prioritize undocumented immigrants over citizens and threaten national security.

This is not the first federal challenge to the law—the Trump administration previously barred New Yorkers from Trusted Traveler Programs in retaliation, a move later overturned in court. The current lawsuit seeks to declare the law unlawful, reflecting a broader push to align state policies with federal immigration priorities. In response, Attorney General Letitia James is urging the court to dismiss the case, defending the law as a legitimate exercise of state authority to regulate licenses and protect privacy. With approximately 750,000 immigrants eligible for licenses under the law, the coalition maintains it is a vital step toward inclusion, safety, and dignity for all New Yorkers.