4 THE QUEENS COURIER • DECEMBER 19, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Hundreds line up for licenses as
Green Light Law is implemented
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Hundreds of undocumented immigrants
lined up outside the Department
of Motor Vehicles offi ce in Whitestone
Monday morning waiting for their opportunity
to apply for a driver’s license thanks
to the so-called Green Light Law, which
restores access to licenses to all state residents,
regardless of immigration status.
Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz, the
fi rst “Dreamer” elected to the state legislature,
grew emotional during a press gathering
Sunday at the offi ces of Make the
Road New York in Jackson Heights.
“I grew up undocumented and I never
thought I would see the day this would
happen,” Cruz said. “To fi nally give a
chance to families like mine to not fear
going out every day to work to have a
chance at a real life because while they
try to destroy us from Washington we’re
going to continue to fi ght to protect our
people right here at home.”
Th e major victory was led by community
based organizations like Make
the Road New York, whose volunteers
knocked on thousands of doors, collected
thousands of petitions, held numerous
community forums, and traveled multiple
times to lobby in Albany. Th e Greenlight
Law is expected to impact more than
700,000 undocumented immigrants who
are now eligible to apply.
“Our community stood up for respect
and dignity for all, and we won,” Make the
Road New York Co-Executive Director
Javier H. Valdés said. “Now all New
Yorker, regardless of immigration status,
will be able to apply for driver’s licenses,
which will keep our roads safer, stimulate
the economy, and keep families together.
Th is historic victory means that hundreds
of thousands of New Yorkers will
now be able to take their kids to school
and the doctor, get to work effi ciently, and
respond to emergencies in their families.”
Outside the Queens DMV, immigrants
were chanting “Si se pudo!” (We did it)
and “Licencias para todos!” (Licenses for
all) as they awaited their opportunity.
“What an incredible feeling it will be
to fi nally have a license,” MRNY member
Fausto Jiminez said. “Th is will mean I can
drive my family where we want to go, with
the peace of mind that I won’t be stopped
and torn away from the people I love.”
Experts have found that the Greenlight
Law will bring substantial economic benefi
ts to the state including $57 million
in annual revenue. New York has joined
twelve states, plus Washington D.C. and
Puerto Rico, which have similar policies
in place.
“Today we are seeing a massive response
from the immigrant community that
fought for years to make the Greenlight
Law a reality,” MRNY Associate Director
of Organizing Yaritza Mendez said. “As we
expected, we are seeing thousands of community
members come forward to apply
for licenses for the fi rst time. People are
waiting in the cold because they know that
having a license will enable them to drive
their kids to school, to the doctor and get
to work effi ciently, especially in places
where there isn’t access to public transit.”
State Attorney General Letitia James
won two lawsuits fi led by upstate county
clerks, who tried to block implementation
of the law.
“Th e Green Light Law is legal and
enforceable, and two separate federal
courts have now already dismissed the
meritless claims of two county clerks,”
James said. “Th e law will help make our
roads safer, our economy stronger, and
will allow immigrants to come out of
the shadows to sign up as legal drivers
in our state. We expect all public offi -
cials to comply with the law, and, as the
state’s attorney and chief law enforcement
offi cer, I will continue to vigorously
defend it.”
St. Albans man admits to shooting
off -duty corrections offi cer: DA
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
mourn his absence from their lives, but
edavenport@qns.com
I am hopeful that knowing the perpetrator
@QNS
of this horrible crime will be punished
brings them some comfort.”
A St. Albans man admitted to fatally
According to charges, Hunter encountered
shooting an off -duty corrections offi -
Jonathan Narain, 27, at the corner of
cer during a road rage incident in South
120th Street and 103rd Avenue just aft er
Richmond Hill, prosecutors announced
1:30 a.m. on Sept. 14, 2018. Hunter, who
last week.
was riding a motorcycle, fi red one shot
Giff ord Hunter, 31, pleaded guilty to
into Narain’s car, striking Narian once in
fi rst-degree manslaughter on Dec. 12.
the head.
“A petty traffi c dispute led to the death
Paramedics responded to the scene and
of a corrections offi cer. In pleading guilty,
rushed Narain to Jamaica Hospital, where
the defendant has now admitted to this
he was pronounced dead.
senseless act of violence that claimed
Hunter is due to return to court for sentencing
the life of a hard-working family man,”
on Feb. 13, 2020, where he faces
said Acting District Attorney John M.
23 years in prison, to be followed by fi ve
Ryan. “Th e offi cer’s loved ones will forever
years’ post release supervision.
Photo by Robert Stridiron
Delete the walk of Giff ord Hunter, 31, during his arrest in September 2018.
Courtesy Make the Road NY
Hundreds of undocumented immigrants line up outside the DMV in Whitestone to apply for a license.
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
link
link
link
