N.Y. sanctuary law shields DUI records from DHS – By Stephen Dinan (Washington Times) / Feb 6 2020
New York had to be cut out of trusted traveler programs after the state blocked access to its driver’s databases because key agencies can no longer check on DUI or other serious traffic offense records, Homeland Security officials said Thursday.
The department’s move to shut down applications for Global Entry and the Free and Secure Trade program for New Yorkers has sparked outrage from state Democrats, who say the Trump administration is engaged in partisan retaliation for New York’s sanctuary laws.
But a top Customs and Border Protection official said there are serious operational problems created by the sanctuary laws, and they could not approve any applications without having access to information that’s only available from the state’s databases.
In particular, information on DUIs or other serious traffic offenses is only found in those databases, said Todd Owen, executive assistant commissioner at CBP. He said DUIs and serious traffic issues are disqualifiers for the travel programs, and unless the agency can check that data, it cannot approve someone.
No databases means no checks, ergo no approvals.
Continue to article: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/feb/6/new-york-sanctuary-law-shields-dui-records-dhs/
