BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region
PUBLISHED 7:20 AM ET Feb. 11, 2020

As expected on Monday, New York officials filed a lawsuit to reverse the federal government's freeze on trusted traveler programs for residents who are registering or must renew.

Not so expected? The criticism by James P. Kennedy, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York, who knocked the measure that allows undocumented immigrants to apply for driver's licenses, known as the Green Light Law.

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region
PUBLISHED 7:10 AM ET Jan. 28, 2020

Immigration advocates in New York decried the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that will likely pave the way for President Donald Trump's administration to broaden the ability of the federal government to restrict low-income immigrants by denying them visas and green cards when seeking social services.

The Supreme Court on Monday, in a 5-4 decision, lifted the injunction for the rule change, which would broaden the number of benefit programs that qualify under the so-called "public charge" rule and make it more difficult for poorer immigrants to come to and stay in the United States.

BY Nick Reisman City of Albany

As the new legislative session dawns in Albany on Wednesday, FWD.us, a progressive organization backed by business groups, touted the accomplishments of the prior year.

But at the same time, the group in a statement said it wants to ensure those accomplishments -- the passage of a measure allowing undocumented immigrants to access driver's licenses, will be fully enacted.

BY Ryan Whalen City of Albany

The United States Customs and Border Protection agency is voicing concerns about New York State’s new Green Light Law.

The law, which went into effect Monday, allows for undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses but it also greatly restricts information the Department of Motor Vehicles can share with federal law enforcement. CBP said it relies heavily on cooperation from its state and local partners to protect the public.

BY Nick Reisman City of Albany

A federal court on Friday upheld New York’s law allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses — paving the way for the measure to take effect on Saturday.

The court rejected a challenge to the law from Rensselaer County Clerk Frank Merola, who had challenged the measure’s constitutionality.