Revenge for illegal immigrants: Department of Homeland Security restricts New Yorkers' travel rights

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has banned New Yorkers from participating in Global Entry and other similar programs. These measures were taken after New York allowed illegal immigrants to obtain driving licenses. The other day, US President Donald Trump during a speech called immigrants "dangerous criminal aliens." The office of the state governor called the restriction "political revenge." This publication writes CNN.

About limiting its causes

On February 5, the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security announced that New Yorkers will no longer be eligible to participate in some Trusted Traveler Programs, including Global Entry. The Global Entry Border and Customs Program allows expedited entry into the United States. It is sold through kiosks of the same name at some airports in America.

This limitation is due to the provisions of the state's new "Green Light Act" supporting illegal immigrants. The law, which came into force in December 2019, allows undocumented immigrants to apply for a driver's license, while protecting applicants' information from immigration authorities. “We sent a letter to New York today indicating that because they took these measures, New Yorkers are no longer eligible for these Trusted Traveler Programs,” and said Wednesday. about. Secretary Chad Wolfe.

New Yorkers cannot "sign up or re-sign up" for programs, "because we no longer have access to make sure they meet the requirements of these programs, so we have to do our job," Wulf added.

The letter said that the Green Light Act would impede “the goal of the Immigration and Customs Service to protect New York’s people from threatening national and public security,” according to a copy received by Fox News and confirmed by a CNN source familiar with the letter.

Because the law "prevents DHS from accessing NYC DMV records to determine if an applicant (Trusted Traveler Program) or re-applicant qualifies for the program, New Yorkers will no longer be eligible to enroll or re-enroll in CBP's Trusted Travel Program." , - added in the letter.

What programs will be affected by the restriction

The letter lists four such programs that are administered by the US Customs and Border Guard: the Global Entry Program, which speeds up customs clearance for participants entering the United States; NEXUS program to help speed border crossing for skilled travelers between the US and Canada; Expedited Traveler Electronic Search (SENTRI); A program that speeds up customs clearance for qualified travelers entering the United States; The Free and Safe Trade Program (FAST) is designed to expedite customs clearance for commercial goods crossing the US border from Canada or Mexico.

"Political revenge"

The letter does not mention the Precheck Transport Safety Administration. This, the source notes, appears to be a deliberate attempt to punish New York for breaking the law.

Rich Azzopardi, senior adviser to New York's Democratic government, Andrew Cuomo, told CNN that the state will review the Department of Homeland Security directive. “Obviously, this is political revenge on the part of the federal government, and we will rethink our legal options,” Azzopardi said.

A federal law enforcement official said that customs and border controls in New York did not receive an official directive from headquarters at the end of Wednesday evening, February 5th. The official said the directive could come on Thursday morning, February 6th. According to him, most likely, this will be an order of the Department of Homeland Security sent to the CBP headquarters before it is sent to CBP officials in New York.

What does the US president have to do with it

The program restriction follows President Donald Trump's comments on Tuesday, February 4. Then, during a speech at the State of the Union, he addressed the cities defending undocumented immigrants. “Unfortunately, there are many cities in America where radical politicians have decided to provide refuge for these criminal, illegal aliens,” he said. "In refugee cities, local officials are ordering police to release dangerous criminal aliens to hunt the public, instead of handing them over to ICE for safe removal."

On the subject: DHS Chief Inspector to check on Trump's immigration ban

Former and. about. ICE Director John Sandweg said the so-called "asylum policy" does not affect how the Department of Homeland Security checks people for registration in Global Entry and other Trusted Traveler Programs. “This is simply irrational in the sense that asylum policies do not in any way affect DHS's ability to screen people for Global Entry and other trusted travel programs,” he said. - This is ridiculous, and it politicizes the program that has nothing to do with politics. She is trying to combine two completely unrelated things. It's just ridiculous. "