"And if Posted on 02/06/2020 11:01:27 AM PST by BenLurkin
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says it will no longer allow New York state residents to enroll in programs intended to expedite international travel because of a state law that blocks immigration authorities from accessing motor vehicle records.
New York's "Green Light" law, which took effect in December, allows immigrants without legal status to apply for driver's licenses. It also includes a provision barring state officials at the Department of Motor Vehicles from sharing data with immigration authorities unless a judge orders them to do so.
Ken Cuccinelli, acting deputy secretary at DHS, told reporters on a conference call Thursday that the state law was "dangerous — really thoughtless in terms of unintended consequences."
"President Trump certainly made it clear that if sanctuary city politicians — and sanctuary state, as well — won't keep their people safe, we'll do the best we can to keep them safe," Cuccinelli said.
He said his department has suspended all applications and renewals connected with several of its "trusted traveler" programs — such as Global Entry and NEXUS, which are designed to facilitate and speed up security screening at ports of entry. (TSA PreCheck is not affected.)
Cuccinelli said the New York law makes it more difficult for federal law enforcement officers to determine whether they're dealing with dangerous criminals.
"Obviously, we would urge New York to undo that law and to restore some sanity to its own attempts to help preserve public safety," he said.
And he said the move represents a warning for any state legislators elsewhere who are considering following in New York's footsteps.
"We would urge them to reconsider," Cuccinelli said. "But at least know that if you go down that path, you are cutting their citizens off from a variety of privileges that currently exist and are available to those citizens.
A spokesman for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who signed the state law in June, described the Trump administration's move as "political retaliation" and says the state is considering its legal options.
The Democratic governor, in an interview with member station WAMC, noted that New York is just one of a number of states that have such a law in place, and that the Trump administration — contrary to usual procedure — did not direct concerns to state officials privately before going public with the suspension.
"They never called. They never had a conversation. They sent a letter. They immediately did a press release and a press call," Cuomo told WAMC.
"They want to make their political point — which is that they're anti-immigrant, New York is supporting immigrants, and this is another way to make their political points," Cuomo added.
"And if they have to inconvenience New Yorkers to make their political points, so be it, because they're all about the politics."
Albany doesn't care. The infamous bail reform law that's wreaking havoc here should make that clear.
Why the dems hate him, and tried so hard to remove him from office.
"And if If they play the game, we get to play too.
I’m sorry I guess I wasn’t clear. I meant it was not a new policy for Border Patrol. If they can’t verify that you’re a safe person, they don’t give approval. It’s been that way for a number of years.
The Border Patrol policy has been unchanged for a couple of years at least, long before these Green Light Laws were even written.
Believe me, I know. They don’t care. It’s just another piece of garbage legislation that everyday people should pay attention to when they vote, but they don’t. Sad, really.
“they’re anti-immigrant”
When are these dolts going to get this through
their sordid little minds?
We are anti-illegal-immigrants. Follow the law,
do this the right way, and earn our respect.
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