DHS lifts Trusted Traveler Program ban for New York residents

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will lift its ban on the Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) for New York residents.

The ban, in place since February, was lifted after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state legislature amended the law that prevents sharing of information to federal law enforcement officers. New York amended the Green Light Law to allow for information-sharing of New York Department of Motor Vehicle records “as necessary for an individual seeking acceptance into a trusted traveler program, or to facilitate vehicle imports and/or exports.” The Trusted Traveler Program allows members to use expedited lanes at the U.S. airports and when crossing international borders.

New York State continues to restrict sharing DMV information with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for other enforcement efforts. The state also created new criminal penalties for individuals or entities, who share such information with CBP and ICE. DHS is working with the Department of Justice to determine appropriate legal actions to address this issue.

“We appreciate the information sharing to CBP for the trusted travel program, which enables DHS to move forward and begin once again processing New York residents under the Trusted Travel Program. Nonetheless, local New York law continues to maintain provisions that undermine the security of the American people and purport to criminalize information sharing between law enforcement entities,” Acting Secretary Chad Wolf said.

Wolf said the data provided by state officials help identify foreign terrorist connections and build criminal cases and identify criminal suspects.