(CNN) – The interim secretary of National Security announced Wednesday that New York State residents can no longer participate in certain Trusted Traveler Programs, including the one known as Global Entry, due to the provisions of the new “Green Light Law” of the state that supports the immigrants undocumented
The law, which went into effect in December, allows undocumented immigrants to apply for New York driver’s licenses while protecting the information of applicants from immigration agencies.
“Today, we sent a letter to New York stating that, because they took these measures, New York residents are no longer eligible to enroll in these Trusted Traveler Programs,” interim secretary Chad Wolf told the presenter on Wednesday. Fox News Tucker Carlson.
New York State residents cannot “enroll or re-enroll” in the programs “because we no longer have access to ensure they meet the program requirements, so we need to do our job,” Wolf added.
The letter states that the Green Light Law will prevent the “objective of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service to protect the people of New York from threats to national and public security,” according to a copy obtained by Fox News and confirmed to CNN by A source familiar with the letter.
Since the law “prevents the Department of Homeland Security from accessing the records of the New York Department of Motor Vehicles to determine whether a new applicant or former applicant (from the Trusted Traveler Program) meets the program’s eligibility requirements, New York residents will no longer be eligible to enroll or re-enroll in the Trusted Travel Programs, ”the letter adds.
The letter lists four of these programs administered by US Customs and Border Protection. USA: Global Entry, which allows a faster customs pass for participants when they enter the US. UU .; NEXUS, which allows a faster border crossing for qualified travelers between the US. UU. and Canada; Secure Electronic Network for Rapid Traveler Inspection (SENTRI), another program that allows faster authorization for qualified travelers when they arrive at U.S; and the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program, which allows faster dispatch for commercial shipments that cross the US border. UU. from Canada or Mexico.
The letter does not mention the Precheck program of the Transportation Security Administration, in an effort apparently directed to punish New York by law, while limiting problems at airports.
Rich Azzopardi, senior advisor to the Democratic governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, told CNN that the state would review the directive of the Department of Homeland Security.
“This is obviously a retaliation politics by the federal government and we will review our legal options, ”said Azzopardi.
A federal official told CNN that the Office of Customs and Border Protection in New York had not received an official directive from the headquarters until Wednesday night. The official said the directive could arrive Thursday morning, and it would probably be an order from the Department of Homeland Security sent to CBP headquarters before it is sent to CBP officials in New York.
The move comes after President Donald Trump’s comments on Tuesday during the State of the Union speech that criticizes cities that protect undocumented immigrants.
“Tragically, there are many cities in the United States where radical politicians have chosen to provide shelter for these illegal foreign criminals,” he said. “In the sanctuary cities, local officials order the police to release dangerous foreign criminals to take advantage of the public, instead of handing them over to ICE to be safely removed.”
Former interim director of ICE, John Sandweg, told CNN that sanctuary policies do not affect the way the Department of Homeland Security examines people for Global Entry and other Trusted Traveler Programs.
“This is simply irrational in the sense that sanctuary policies in no way affect the department’s ability to examine people for Global Entry and other reliable traveler programs,” he said.
“It’s ridiculous, and it’s politicizing a program that isn’t about politics. He is trying to combine two totally alien things. It’s just ridiculous, “he said, adding:” It’s the kind of thing that, frankly, will politicize the department in a way that will undermine its mission in the future. “
Priscilla Álvarez of CNN, Geneva Sands, Mark Morales and Sonia Moghe contributed to this report.
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