NY: GOP efforts to repeal "Green Light" law fail

A day after being briefed by officials from the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the dangers of New York State’s so-called “Green Light” law granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, State Senator Tom O’Mara and his Senate GOP colleagues Tuesday maneuvered to repeal the new law. Senate Republicans forced the full Senate to vote on a repeal amendment during the afternoon legislative session.  The amendment, which O’Mara co-sponsored, was defeated along party lines with Republican Senators voting in favor of repeal and Democratic Senators opposed.  The law has come under fire for a provision that prohibits the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles from sharing information with any agency that enforces immigration law, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  This has forced the federal government to discontinue the eligibility of New Yorkers to enroll in various trusted traveler programs that facilitate border entry for frequent international travelers.