Advocates Secure Restoration of Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants in the Empire State
New York State passed a bill that will allow everyone, regardless of their immigration status, to obtain a license to drive legally in the state. Advocates for immigrant communities and their allies across the state won a tremendous victory for public safety, for inclusiveness and for unleashing the potential of immigrant communities. The effort was led by organizations such as Make The Road New York, The New York Immigration Coalition and countless immigrant and immigrant youth organizations, unions, faith groups, and progressive advocates and national allies. They organized, advocated and pushed courageously for the legislation that was signed today by Governor Cuomo.
According to Douglas Rivlin, Director of Communication for America’s Voice: “We congratulate all of the organizations and individuals who kept fighting and pushing for the ‘Green Light New York’ measure to become law. It is a great victory for immigrants and their allies, as well as for drivers in the State of New York. Licenses for all, regardless of immigration status, should be the norm in every state, as immigrants are indispensable members of our communities. With President Trump threatening mass deportation and Senator Mitch McConnell and other Republicans vowing to block every sensible immigration measure at the federal level, this example of a state coping with federal inaction and passing measures to improve public safety is most welcome. We congratulate all of the New York legislators and groups who made it happen.”
