June 18, 2019
Statement From Senator Tom O’Mara:
State Senator Tom O’Mara (R, Big Flats) voted against legislation given final legislative approval by the Senate today that will allow New York to issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has made the enactment of the so-called “Green Light” legislation (S1747/A3675) a priority this session and is expected to sign it into law.
O’Mara once again blasted the move as reckless and the product of one-party, radically progressive, Democratic control of state government.
“Governor Cuomo and the Legislature’s Democrats are behind the wheel, recklessly running red lights, and speeding this state down a radical, irresponsible road to ruin as a high taxing, big spending haven for lawbreakers. Welcome to one-party control,” said O’Mara. “Lawbreaking illegal immigrants should never be rewarded with a government-issued driver’s license. It puts public safety and security at risk, imposes another unfunded mandate on counties, and asks local, law-abiding public servants to break the law.”
The new law will permit illegal immigrants to apply for a standard New York State driver’s license using forms of foreign identification. Among numerous concerns, O’Mara and other opponents argue that county clerks and employees at local Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMV) are unable to verify the authenticity of foreign IDs.
The New York Association of County Clerks opposes the action.
