CANTON, N.Y. (WCAX) – After a year of record border apprehensions, local law enforcement in the North Country and some lawmakers want to repeal a law that they say handcuffs them while they are on the job.
Republican State Senator Dan Stec says its time for local law enforcement to be able to share data when it comes to migrants in northern New York. “Exempt border counties from the Green Light Law. Period. Full stop,” said Stec.
Stec made the proposal alongside fellow north country lawmakers and sheriffs from across the northern border.
“All we are asking for in law enforcement is a fair chance. Just an opportunity to use the tools and resources with other agencies, so that we can partner to create a stronger bond, to keep all of our communities the safest that we possibly can,” said Clinton County Sheriff Dave Favro.
The Greenlight Law was passed in 2019 and allows people who are undocumented to get a driver’s license. Those applying must present multiple documents, such as tax information or other forms of identification, like a passport or foreign driver’s license.
There is also a provision to protect their driving information from being shared with federal authorities.
“The law prohibits state and local law enforcement in New York State from communicating and sharing certain data, the data you would get when you run a plate, with our federal law enforcement partners,” said Stec.
However, across the lake, Leslie Holman with Holman Immigration says the practice of sharing a driver’s data was shut down by a lawsuit.
“There were people that were detained based on this information, and ultimately that was challenged and there was a lawsuit that was settled, which ended up in their being stronger things being put into place and not in danger of being picked up,” said Holman.
She says she believes repealing the Greenlight Law in New York would mean more people driving without a driver’s license and the potential for misuse.
“We might see an influx of people being targeted merely because they applied for something, which they were told, they were safe,” said Holman.
North Country Democratic Assemblyman Billy Jones, who also voted against the Greenlight Law, says he believes in data sharing between state and federal agencies. However, he says it’s up to Congress to help border patrol agents along the border.