New Yorkers applying for the Global Entry program and other trusted traveler programs have a new reality. They’re no longer considered “trusted.”
That’s because the Department of Homeland Security is suspending enrollment in Global Entry and other trusted-traveler programs for the state’s residents in response to the state’s sanctuary city status.
The Wall Street Journal reports that because the state is issuing drivers licenses to illegal immigrants, and refusing to work with the Department of Homeland Security and ICE in tracking dangerous individuals in the country illegally, the state is not a reliable partner for the nation’s defense against terrorism.
New York last year ended its cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
President Donald Trump said in his State of the Union address that such jurisdictions “release dangerous criminal aliens to prey upon the public,” and called on Congress to pass a law imposing civil penalties on cities and states that decline to cooperate with federal immigration officials.
What is Global Entry? Here’s how it works:
Chad Wolf, the acting secretary of Homeland Security said in the interview that the decision is a response to keep the nation safe and focus on reliable partners across the nation.
But New York officials, who were earlier warned of the consequences of their actions, say its political.
“This is obviously political retaliation by the federal government and we’re going to review our legal options,” said Richard Azzopardi, a senior adviser to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat.
The Journal reports that “New York passed a law late last year permitting illegal immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses and shielding state driver’s license records from ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which administers several trusted-traveler programs.”
“Under the new policy, New York residents will no longer be able to apply for or renew their enrollment in Global Entry, along with NEXUS and SENTRI, programs that enable drivers to cross the Mexico and Canada borders more quickly. Enrollment in TSA PreCheck won’t be affected by the new policy.”
The Journal reported that “Mr. Wolf said the limited access to driver’s license records, in particular, has hamstrung the work of ICE and CBP officers who rely on the data for photo identification, license-plate searches and other biographical information.”
–Metro Voice and wire services
