Last week, Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Chad F. Wolf announced that New York state residents will no longer be eligible to apply for or to renew their enrollment in Trusted Traveler programs, including Global Entry.
New York state recently passed the "Green Light" law permitting the undocumented to secure state driver licenses for public safety reasons. DHS then terminated federal expedited travel programs for vetted New York state travelers. This new rule will affect those enrolling in Global Entry, who will now be barred from enrolling as well as for those who have Global Entry registrations terminating soon - they will not be able to re-enroll. For current New York State Global Entry beneficiaries, travel benefits will not be rescinded. Thirteen other states have likewise allowed undocumented persons to secure driver's licenses for reasons related to public safety, but these states have not been penalized as has New York State. Federal authorities will be barred from accessing New York state driver license databases.
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York Attorney General Letitia James have announced that they will be pursuing federal lawsuits to enjoin the administration from carrying out their intention of terminating Trusted Traveler benefits for New York state residents.
Global Entry eligibility is issued to the following individuals:
• U.S. citizens;
• U.S. lawful permanent residents;
• Citizens of:
o Argentina;
o India;
o Colombia;
o United Kingdom;
o Germany;
o Panama;
o Singapore; and
o South Korea.
The press release by U.S. Citizenship Services further notes that if it is barred from actively accessing New York State databases relating to commercial truck drivers, it is expected that close to 30,000 commercial truck drivers will be suspended from utilizing the Global Entry, SENTRI, NEXUS and other fast track programs easing the way for commercial businesses to travel the four New York-Canada ports of entry.
To read the U.S. Customs and Border Protection press release, please click here.
