Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C,I,Ref-Pulaski), Congressman Tom Reed (R-NY) and Senate Minority Leader John J. Flanagan (R-Suffolk County) spoke at a press conference today in Albany, alongside members of the Assembly and Senate Minority Conferences, to outline the negative impacts the Driver’s License Access & Privacy Act, or “Green Light Law,” has had on local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

The press conference was held immediately following a briefing by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detailing how the state’s “Green Light Law” has prohibited the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) from providing critical information to DHS and other law-enforcement agencies.

“The insights we gained today from the experts working through these dangerous policies were eye opening and startling,” said Barclay. “Obstructions to the federal law-enforcement community are putting officers at risk and making it harder to stop heinous crimes like human trafficking and drug distribution. Clearly, law enforcement agencies at every level must be given unfettered access to the data they need, otherwise their ability to protect and serve is diminished.”

“‘The Green Light Law’ is dangerous. We cannot forget the lessons of 9/11. I am proud to organize this briefing to educate Albany lawmakers about how this law threatens everything the Department of Homeland Security was created to do to keep New Yorkers safe,” said Reed.

Earlier this month, DHS wrote a letter to the state DMV outlining their disappointment in the state’s lack of security cooperation with not only DHS, but also with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The statistics surrounding the long-standing, cooperative relationship between ICE and the state DMV are staggering; on a daily basis, ICE uses DMV data to fight a substantial criminal element smuggling drugs and sex workers into the country. In 2019, ICE arrested 149 child predators, seized 6,487 pounds of illegal narcotics, identified or rescued 105 victims of human trafficking/exploitation and arrested 230 gang members – all in New York alone. To intentionally disrupt this relationship now is irresponsible. In order to identify and dismantle dangerous and illegal activity such as this, it is critical that the right information get into the right hands at the right time.

“The Majority-created ‘Green Light Law’ by design shuts out federal law enforcement agencies which deal with immigration. Gov. Cuomo’s outlandish claims that this is ‘extortion’ is nothing more than the Majority distortion, since he knowingly signed into law a politicized bill with a clear intention of preventing federal law enforcement from doing their jobs. One Party Rule has brought New York the worst policies we’ve ever seen. No state in the nation, particularly in a post-9/11 world, fails to share information with federal law enforcement,” said Flanagan. “The Majority expressed their desire to deliberately handcuff our federal agencies on the Senate floor when the Minority grilled them during debate. And, the Majority alone chose to pass legislation that creates a backdoor sanctuary policy across our state, despite the Minority’s warnings. The ill-effects of this created mess include DHS not being able to vet Trusted Travelers, and ICE not having a tool to apprehend criminals like drug smugglers, sex traffickers and murderers. But as is the theme, the Majority prefer putting criminals before law-abiding citizens. The only solution to this problem is to fully repeal the Majority’s ‘Green Light Law’ for the safety and security of New York and the nation.”

The new law has impeded law enforcement at the state and local levels from accessing relevant information and performing their duties as well. In fact, the New York State Sheriffs’ Association recently issued a letter to the governor and legislative majorities pointing out that in order for the sheriffs to keep their own officers safe by allowing access to DMV data, they had to sign a non-disclosure agreement that jeopardizes their federal partners.

“Public safety is not a political bargaining chip,” added Leader Barclay. “Members of our Conference will continue to call for the governor and legislative majorities to back off this ludicrous ultimatum. We stand firmly behind law enforcement and support their oath to serve and protect the people of this state and nation.”