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Global Entry continues to be the favorite program of many frequent travelers. I’ve personally found it to be extremely useful as it has often helped me skip the line and has saved valuable time. However, as we all know, travel and politics often tend to cross paths. The main reason for this is the fact that any travel is subject to government rules and regulations. This latest news shines light on what’s going on and what implications it may have to Global Entry in the state of New York.
Global Entry Suspension – What’s happened so far
This story is still developing and we will get more updates as time rolls on. However, multiple major news outlets have already reported about the suspension of the program for NY residents.
CNN reports that the news was broken when Tucker Carlson spoke to acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf on Fox News on Wednesday night. You can watch the video of the actual interview here:
The acting secretary of Homeland Security announced on Wednesday that New York state residents can no longer participate in certain Trusted Traveler Programs, including Global Entry, due to provisions in the state’s new “Green Light Law” supporting undocumented immigrants.
The law, which went into effect in December, allows undocumented immigrants to apply for New York driver’s licenses while protecting applicants’ information from immigration enforcement agencies.
Immediate Impact
New York state residents cannot “enroll or re-enroll” in the programs “because we no longer have access to make sure that they meet those program requirements, so we need to do our job,” Wolf added.
- Global Entry
- NEXUS
- SENTRI
- FAST
The Pundit’s Mantra
Supporters of this ruling point out that DHS having access to DMV records is a vital part of their duties of vetting people while doing background checks. Lack of access to this data impedes their ability to perform their duties. Critics of this ruling point out that this is simply political in nature and is aimed at punishing a voter base in a strong Democratic state in order to score political points in an election year.
No matter what the intent, this ruling will definitely cause inconvenience to frequent travelers in the state of New York.
What do you think about this recent ruling by DHS? Do you think it’s fair or is it simply an aim at scoring political points?
Let us know in the comments section.
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I can understand where they are coming from in terms of needing to verify certain information through the DMV. Granted I am not sure what sort of background checks are needed to qualify for Global Entry but i am assuming that there is valid information being blocked and this isn’t just political retribution for new illegal immigrant policies.
That all being said, i don’t understand why previous Global Entry participants cannot renew. What possible information could Global Entry need from the DMV that wasn’t already there when the first applied. It would seem to me that all they would need to verify is that they are still a current US citizen & NY resident, something with could also be proven via other means.
Finally i didn’t see it in the article, but i would imagine that current Global Entry participants would still be allowed to use the program until their ID expired. I would be interested to know if this was infact the case.
Hi Nick,
Yes, based on what we know so far, existing members will continue to use these programs until their renewal dates.
Another reason for New York to secede from the United States. New Yorkers send their wealth to DC for redistribution to the rest of the country, lose their sovereignty to make their own laws for their own residents, and are rendered second class citizens by the Federal Government. Being part of the USA is a lose, lose, lose proposition for New Yorkers.
Hi Mak,
I doubt secession is even a solution to the problem even if it were to ever happen. The solution really has to be long term where we figure out a way where the federal and state government aren’t at loggerheads, thereby affecting the lives of people in those jurisdictions. Probably too idealistic, but I hope that happens some day.
These programs require the same scrutiny from all states. If NY does not want to allow the same policies to apply to their residents, then the state made its choice to protect illegals over residents. I fully agree with the decision.
How can your local DMV possibly provide actual help on a passport check. Appears another effort to pump up the base to stop immigration. America should be better than this.
Even though my global entry expiration is coming up in 6 months I am happy to hear about this policy. Illegal immigration is a huge danger to many Americans so I am pleased the federal government is doing something to address state governments who aid and abet illegals.
Well said, John.
Illegal immigration is a rather minor danger compared to the real harm inflicted on the United States by its own natural born citizens who have slowly (and now quickly) turned the USA into an insolvent welfare state where bureaucrats and rent-seekers have sucked the nation dry . . . but railing against immigrants is always a good way to deflect from that fact.