DHS Restores Trusted Travelers Program Access for New York Residents

The Department of Homeland Security has announced that it will lift the ban on the Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) for New York residents.

In February of this year, Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature amended the law passed in December that prevents sharing of information to federal law enforcement officers, after the DHS cut NY from the TTP. 

The TTP gives members the ability to use certain federal programs that make it easier for people traveling internationally to get through border security, including global entry. Until now the Department of Homeland Security did not allow New Yorkers to enroll.

This affected over 175,000 New Yorkers whose enrollment permits expired.

New York state has made some changes to the laws allowing DMV records to be shared with the TTP which means the state will be allowed to participate again. However, NY continues to deny some information from U.S. Custom Borders Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and DHS is currently working with the Department of Justice to take legal action to get NY to stop withholding this data.

“We appreciate the information sharing to CBP for the trusted travel program, which enables DHS to move forward and begin once again processing New York residents under the Trusted Travel Program.  Nonetheless, local New York law continues to maintain provisions that undermine the security of the American people and purport to criminalize information sharing between law enforcement entities,” Acting Secretary Wolf stated.  

“The Green Light Law ultimately undermines the efforts of law enforcement officers, criminalizing their mission to secure the nation and the American people from threats and furthering the risk to their own lives.  When jurisdictions like New York fail to cooperate with federal authorities, they operate more like refuges from criminal behavior, not sanctuary havens.” 

Cuomo spoke on the subject, he said "After the Department of Homeland Security announced the ban on the Trusted Traveler Program for New York residents in February, I immediately met with President Trump at the White House to discuss what needed to be done to address the issue while still protecting the privacy of all New Yorkers. Subsequently, the matter was dealt with in the state budget passed in April. I am glad that this issue has finally been resolved for all New Yorkers."

DHS photos by Barry Bahler and Tara A. Molle