The Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) acknowledged Thursday that it had denied New York access to programs that accelerate world travel due to a state law that supports undocumented immigrants .
DHS says that Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state Legislature have amended the law to lift the ban on New York residents from participating in so-called trusted traveler programs , CNN reported .
The aforementioned law, which came into effect last December, allows undocumented immigrants to apply for a New York driver’s license while protecting the personal information of applicants from the immigration authorities.
At the time, Cuomo branded these changes to the Trump Administration as “pure politicking” and added that “it has nothing to do with affecting government policies or laws.”
The Global Entry program, one of the hitherto affected, provides a dedicated and accelerated service for travelers who have approval before entering the United States.
New York State will now allow information from Department of Motor Vehicles ( DMV ) records to be shared “as needed for a person seeking acceptance into a trusted traveler program, or to facilitate vehicle imports and / or exports ”, According to the legislative text cited by DHS.
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf regretted, however, that “ New York state law maintains clauses that weaken the security of the American people and [that] seek to criminalize the exchange of information between police authorities.
Cuomo said in a statement Thursday that he met with Donald Trump in the winter to address the issue and protect the privacy of New Yorkers.
