Attorney General James Announces NYS Will Sue Trump Administration on New DHS Policy Suspending Global Entry for New York Residents

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that the Office of the New York Attorney General intends to sue the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over a new federal policy that prohibits New Yorkers from enrolling or re-enrolling in the federal government’s Trusted Traveler Programs.

“This is political retribution, plain and simple, and while the president may want to punish New York for standing up to his xenophobic policies, we will not back down,” said Attorney General James. “We plan to take legal action and sue the Trump Administration for its unfair targeting of New York State residents. This new policy will negatively impact travelers, workers, commerce, and our economy, so we will fight the president’s shortsighted crusade against his former home. We will not allow New Yorkers to be targeted or bullied by an authoritarian thug.”

“Time and time again President Trump and his Washington enablers have gone out of their way to hurt New York and other blue states whenever they can as punishment for refusing to fall in line with their dangerous and divisive agenda,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said. “The Department of Homeland Security’s decision to ban New Yorkers from the Trusted Traveler Program is yet another example of this administration’s disrespect of the rule of law, hyper-partisan politics and use of extortion. There is no rational basis for this politically motivated ban, and we are taking legal action to stop the federal government from inconveniencing New Yorkers to score political points.”

Despite 13 other states and the District of Columbia already passing laws similar to the one that New York passed allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver licenses, the Trump Administration on Wednesday singled out and targeted New York State and its residents by informing the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that New York residents could no longer enroll or reenroll in a number of Trusted Traveler Programs, including Global Entry, SENTRI (Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection), NEXUS, and FAST (Free and Secure Trade).

New York residents who are already active Trusted Traveler Program participants will not have Global Entry participation or participation in any of the other programs revoked. TSA Pre✓ does not seem to be affected at this time. Additionally, the DHS has stated that the exportation of used vehicles titled and registered in New York State could be delayed and could be costlier under its new policy.

The federal government’s decision to impose this new policy stems from a fight about New York’s Green Light law. Last year, Governor Cuomo signed the Green Light bill into law, which allows undocumented immigrants to apply for driver licenses. This law is legal and enforceable, and two separate federal courts have already dismissed meritless lawsuits against it. The Green Light law was designed to make New York roads safer, provide a boost to the state’s economy, and allow immigrants to come out of the shadows.