NEW YORK (AP) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the state will file a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's plan to block New Yorkers from enrolling in “trusted traveler” programs.
The lawsuit, announced Friday, will be brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James. According to the governor's office, it "will argue that the Federal Department of Homeland Security has violated New York's sovereign immunity, not provided our residents with equal protection and is acting in an arbitrary and capricious manner that denies the rights and privileges of all New Yorkers."
Federal officials say they took the step because of a new New York law barring immigrant agents from getting access to state motor vehicle records.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo released a statement Friday which said:
"Time and time again President Trump and his Washington enablers have gone out of their way to hurt New York and other blue states whenever they can as punishment for refusing to fall in line with their dangerous and divisive agenda. The Department of Homeland Security's decision to ban New Yorkers from the Trusted Traveler Program is yet another example of this administration's disrespect of the rule of law, hyper-partisan politics and use of extortion. There is no rational basis for this politically motivated ban, and we are taking legal action to stop the federal government from inconveniencing New Yorkers to score political points."
New York Attorney General Letitia James released this statement on Twitter Friday:
"#BREAKING: We plan to sue the Trump Admin for unfairly targeting NYers with its new DHS policy restricting Global Entry. The policy will negatively impact travelers, workers, commerce & our economy, so we will fight the president’s shortsighted crusade against his former home."
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown sent a letter Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad F. Wolf Friday which said in part:
"I write with urgency on behalf of the City of Buffalo and all of Western New York to request that you rescind the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) decision to suspend New York State from the Global Entry travel program. The suspension of new enrollment/reenrollment in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Trusted Traveler programs (Global Entry, FAST, SENTRI, and NEXUS) will have a devastating impact on the City of Buffalo."
