NYCLU Statement on ICE Access to DMV Databases

NEW YORK, N.Y – Today Governor Cuomo announced in various media interviews his intention to allow ICE and DHS to access DMV databases. Last week the Governor met with the President to discuss the database, in response to the federal government’s suspension of enrollment to Global Entry and other Trusted Traveler Programs. The New York Civil Liberties joined the state Attorney General’s office to file a lawsuit against that suspension, arguing that the move was illegal retaliation for New York’s passage and implementation of the Green Light Law.

In response to today’s announcement about access to the database, the New York Civil Liberties Union released the following statement from Executive Director Donna Lieberman:

“Trump’s shutdown of Global Entry is a smokescreen, a power-grab to gain access to New York’s DMV databases and attack our immigrant communities. Thousands of New Yorkers rely on the reasonable and unequivocal safeguards in our state law that prohibit ICE and DHS access to our DMV databases. The NYCLU’s lawsuit against DHS will vigorously fight the Trump administration’s attempts to retaliate against and intimidate New York. We must all stand firm against ICE’s deportation machine.”