Feds Suspend NY Travelers Program After Sanctuary State Law

New York – New York state’s recent passage of a law banning most cooperation with federal immigration agencies is costing its citizens travel programs that have eased wait times.

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said on Wednesday that the department of homeland security was suspending, effective immediately, the ability of New York residents to enroll in Global Entry and several other Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP).

Wolf told Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show that the move was in response to the law passed by state lawmakers making New York a “sanctuary” state.

“In New York alone,” Wolf wrote to state authorities, “last year ICE arrested 149 child predators, identified or rescued 105 victims of exploitation and human trafficking, arrested 230 gang members, and seized 6,487 pounds of illegal narcotics, including fentanyl and opioids. In the vast majority of these cases, ICE relied on New York DMV records to fulfill its mission.”

The also permits illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses.

The order came a day after President Trump condemned sanctuary states and cities that “release dangerous criminal aliens to prey upon the public,” and called on Congress to pass a law establishing civil liability for sanctuary cities.

Because TTPs rely on states to verify individuals’ identities, Wolf stated, New York residents “will no longer be eligible to enroll or re-enroll” in select TTPs — including Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST. These programs allow expedited processing into the U.S. from selected international destinations.

TSA PreCheck was not among the TTPs affected by the order, a DHS official confirmed to Fox News.