St. Lawrence County’s state Assembly and Senate representatives with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik are voicing opposition to New York’s “Green Light Law” in the wake of a decision by U.S. the Department of Homeland Security which they say could inhibit free travel for New Yorkers.

In response to passage of the “Green Light Law,” the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced their decision to suspend enrollment in Global Entry and other trusted-traveler programs for New York State residents, said a press release issued by Stefanik’s office.

The “Green Light Law,” which took effect in December 2019, allows issuance of a driver’s license to illegal immigrants.

In making their decision, DHS cited the state’s sanctuary policies that safeguard immigrants from deportation, the press release said.

DHS will immediately stop accepting new applications from New York State residents to enroll or re-enroll in some of the agency’s travel programs, including Global Entry.

New York is the only state to be impacted by DHS’s decision thus far.

“The Governor’s reckless Green Light Law not only has hampered efforts to enforce federal immigration laws, it is continuing to have harmful implications for our state,” Congresswoman Stefanik said. “In December of last year, I warned Governor Cuomo that this irresponsible policy would inhibit our CBP officers at the Northern Border from doing their jobs. Qualified, legal citizens should not be penalized by the Governor’s unconscionable actions, which not only hinder our border patrol, law enforcement, and other agencies from being able to effectively do their job, but now also prevent our residents from receiving access to important travel programs.”

“When the ‘Green Light Law’ was debated on the Assembly floor last year, I raised serious concerns about the far-reaching impact this policy could have,” said State Assemblyman Mark Walczyk, District 116, which includes many St. Lawrence County’s river communities. “It’s hamstringing law enforcement and Border Agents from effectively executing their jobs and now after the news that DHS has cut off New Yorkers from enrolling in trusted traveler programs, this reinforces the fact that this law is just plain wrong, period.”

“The recent decision by the Department of Homeland Security is unfortunate and yet another example of the negative consequences that have resulted from one-party and one-region rule in New York State,” said State Sen. Joseph Griffo, who represents parts of St. Lawrence County. “I recognize a need for immigration reforms. However, as I have said in the past, immigration is a longstanding federal issue that cannot be addressed state by state. Now, as the result of a downstate-driven policy, law-abiding New Yorkers are being penalized, punished and inconvenienced,” Griffo, the deputy minority leader in the state Senate, did not support the Green Light Law.

“Our governor needs to start putting the residents of New York state first. I’m tired of hearing time and time again that illegal immigrants are receiving priority over our own citizens,” said Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, District 117, which includes Gouverneur, Pitcairn, DeKalb, and Edwards. “It’s outrageous that the Green Light Law will now be punishing our legal residents.”

“I voted against the Green-Light Law because it rewards people who have broken the laws of our country and incentivizes them to come to New York state,” said Assemblyman Robert Smullen, District 118, the northern portion of which covers parts of St. Lawrence County. “Now we are also seeing that law-abiding New Yorkers will have their travel impacted as the Department of Homeland Security has no choice but to prohibit New York residents’ enrollment in Trusted Traveler Programs such as Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST, which are utilized to expedite international travel. I hope this will serve as a wake-up call to leaders in Albany that we cannot prioritize our political agendas ahead of our national security.”