Gov ‘Green Lights’ undocumented drivers
Cuomo OKs legislation that allows illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses
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BY TIMOTHY BOLGER
New York State lawmakers approved
the hotly debated Green
Light NY bill that allows undocumented
immigrants to acquire
driver’s licenses.
After the bill cleared the
fi nal hurdle of passage in the
Democrat-controlled state Senate
on Monday, Gov. Andrew
Cuomo signed the bill into law
— a move that proponents say
will boost the economy and
critics argue enables immigrants
that illegally enter the
country.
“While opponents continue
to spread misinformation and
stoke fears about the bill’s intent
and consequences, the Assembly
Majority will continue
to put the needs of New Yorkers
fi rst,” said Assembly Speaker
Carl Heastie. “The legislation
we passed today will promote
public safety, protect our
state’s economy and ensure every
New Yorker can integrate
into their community and care
for their family. Making sure
that every driver is trained,
tested and insured will make
New York’s roads safer for everyone
and ensure that our
industries have the labor they
need to keep our economy moving.”
New York joins 12 states,
Puerto Rico, and the District
of Columbia that have already
enacted laws allowing undocumented
immigrants to obtain
driver’s licenses. The move
further positions the Empire
State in opposition to President
Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration
stance.
“By passing this needed
legislation, we are growing
our economy while at the same
time making our roads safer,”
said Senate Majority Leader
Andrea Stewart-Cousins (DWestchester).
“This is the right
step forward for New York
State as we continue to advocate
for comprehensive immigration
reform on the federal
level.”
The bill, which passed the
state Senate by a vote of 33 to
29 and goes into effect immediately,
reverses a ban enacted in
2001. Estimates on how many
undocumented immigrants
will benefi t from the law range
from 250,000 to 750,000. It will
result in $83.9 million in government
revenues over the fi rst
three years and $6.4 million in
recurring revenue thereafter,
the Fiscal Policy Institute estimates.
In effect, it allows anyone
applying for a non-commercial
driver’s license or learner’s
permit to submit additional
proofs of identity for applicants
that sign an affi davit indicating
that they haven’t been issued
a social security number.
The state will also keep that
documentation private.
Fear that the federal government
will use the driver’s
license application paperwork
to deport undocumented immigrants
was a sticking point
among Democrats in the debate.
Cuomo had indicated he
would veto the bill if he didn’t
get assurances from the Solicitor
General that the federal
government won’t be able
to access the paperwork. But
he ultimately signed the bill
into law Monday night after
the Attorney General Letitia
James said “that she believes
there are ‘safeguards’
in the bill, and it can be defended;
in other words, it cannot
be weaponized to be used
against undocumented individuals,”
Cuomo’s offi ce said
in a statement.
State Sen. Zellnor Myrie (DCrown
Heights) took to Twitter
to celebrate the bill’s passage.
“No one should have to overcome
fear just to get to work,
pick up their kids from school
or otherwise take care of their
families,” he said. Proud to
fi ght for our immigrant communities
and vote YES on
#GreenLightNY.”
This story fi rst appeared on
longislandpress.com , one of our
sister publications.
APPROVED: Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law legislation that allows
undocumented immigrants to acquire driver’s licenses. Getty Images
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