In a development that excited conservatives weary of the left’s neglect of the rule of law, President Trump’s recently appointed Attorney General, Pam Bondi, promptly confronted New York’s progressive political leadership. One of her most notable actions was the initiation of charges against Governor Kathy Hochul and other prominent state officials for their overt violation of immigration laws. While much of the focus was on the audacious press conference conducted by AG Bondi, a less reported incident occurred when Hochul issued an emotional and defiant response.
On February 12, after the charges were announced, Governor Hochul released a statement that could only be characterized as an irrational outburst, clearly reflecting her urgency to divert attention from her unlawful conduct. The governor commenced by trivializing the charges with a theatrical gesture, accusing Bondi of merely orchestrating a media event. She remarked, “Earlier today, Attorney General Pam Bondi paraded in front of the television cameras for a dramatic media briefing to declare she was filing charges against New York State concerning our immigration laws.”
Hochul sought to minimize the importance of the charges, labeling them as “smoke and mirrors” since they were founded on a law enacted in 2019. Nevertheless, her rationale crumbled when she could not clarify how a law that her administration continues to violate could be disregarded. “Hours later, when legal documents were distributed to reporters, we discovered this was smoke and mirrors: the Department of Justice was pursuing a routine civil action regarding a law passed in 2019 that has been consistently upheld by the courts,” she exclaimed, evading any genuine responsibility for New York’s policies that have increasingly permitted illegal immigrants to move about freely.
As if the narrative were not already absurd, Hochul asserted that New York was fulfilling its role in aiding the federal government in managing illegal immigration, despite the state’s sanctuary designation. She oddly maintained, “Our existing laws permit federal immigration officials to access any DMV database with a judicial warrant. This is a common-sense approach that most New Yorkers endorse.” Naturally, the governor neglected to confront the glaring issue: New York City is a sanctuary city, intentionally protecting criminals and lawbreakers from federal enforcement.
However, the governor did not cease her remarks there. In a surprising development, she mounted a vigorous defense of sanctuary policies, siding with illegal immigrants rather than prioritizing the safety and security of her constituents. “New York takes pride in the fact that immigrants from around the world come here in search of a better life,” Hochul declared, drawing parallels to her Irish immigrant grandparents. “We embrace law-abiding individuals who wish to work, pay taxes, and contribute to our communities, while simultaneously ensuring the public safety of all New Yorkers by taking a firm stance against violent offenders.”
In her concluding statements, Hochul reaffirmed her defiance, ridiculing Bondi’s lawsuit. “We anticipate Pam Bondi’s ineffective, publicity-seeking lawsuit to be a complete failure, just like all the previous ones. Let me be unequivocal: New York will not retreat,” she proclaimed.
