A federal appeals court on Monday upheld the dismissal of a previous challenge to New York's law allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for and receive driver's licenses.
The legal challenge is the latest victory for proponents of the 2019 measure known as the Green Light Law. County clerks in New York had challenged its legality, including Erie County Clerk Mickey Kearns.
Kearns's previous challenge had been dismissed by a district court; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld that decision in a ruling issued on Monday.
“The Green Light law is legal and enforceable, and today’s decision marks the third federal court to dismiss challenges brought seeking to enjoin the law," said New York Attorney General Letitia James.
"This law provides protections to all New Yorkers by making our roads safer, growing our economy, and allowing immigrants to come out of the shadows to sign up as legal drivers in our state. As the state’s attorney and chief law enforcement officer, I am proud to have vigorously defended this law and will continue to do so against all who oppose it.”
Earlier this year New York state officials were embroiled in a fight with President Donald Trump's administration over the Green Light Law. The federal government had frozen access to trusted traveler programs that provide ease of access for those who make frequent border crossings.
The move affected about 175,000 New Yorkers who had enrolled in the global entry programs.
Ultimately, New York tweaked that law that provided access to DMV records on a limited basis for the applications in the state budget earlier this year. A federal judge found the Trump administration broke the law during the feud.