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April 4, 2019. This article discusses the Trump administration's claims that illegal immigration costs the United States $200 billion a year, which experts challenge. The author goes on to note that undocumented immigrants are not eligible to receive public benefits with the exception of medical treatment for emergencies, emergency disaster relief, immunizations and pregnant women are eligible for Women, Infants & Children (WIC). Trump tweeted in December that the estimated 11,300,000 undocumented immigrants who live in the United States present a staggering bill to U.S. [...]

April 3, 2019. In this op-ed the author discusses their support for expanding access to driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants. The author argues that allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers licenses would make roads safer, strengthen trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities, and help immigrants integrate. Mickey Belosi, the author, also argues that in places like rural New York, a driver's licenses is a necessity and that the 2005 REAL ID Act allows states the opportunity to develop a multi-tier driver’s license system that has [...]

April 1, 2019. This article discusses the disappointment of advocates across New York State with the allocated $20 million funding for the 2020 census included the governor's state budget, which was released Sunday March 31, 2019. The author goes on to highlight that advocates were asking the state to provide $40 million for community based organizations to do outreach and help with 2020 census work, an estimate calculated by the Fiscal Policy Institute. The author goes on to note that New York has a lot to [...]

March 28, 2019. This article covers the reports that $40 million will be included in the budget for community based organizations to help ensure an accurate count in the 2020 census. The author notes that both the Assembly and Senate included the funds in their one-house budgets. The article goes on to highlight that advocates will still urge the governor to include the funds in the finalized budget. State lawmakers will provide $40 million in state money to ensure New Yorkers are ready for next [...]

March 27, 2019. This article discusses the Cayuga County Clerk Sue Dwyer's opposition to a proposed bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to apply for driver's licenses. According to the article, the county clerk claims that her staff doesn't have the capacity or training to verify foreign documents and that she is concerned about voter registration documents being given to undocumented immigrants. Rebecca Fuentes, from the Workers' Center of CNY, said that because undocumented workers can't drive, they have to pay $20 to $30 for underground taxis for grocery [...]

March 23, 2019. This article, the author provides answers to some of the frequently asked questions asked about providing undocumented immigrants with access to driver's licenses. The questions the author provided answers to include the following: does current law prohibit those in the country illegally from obtaining driver’s licenses in New York, is legislation to legalize driver’s licenses for these immigrants expected to pass, how many immigrants are we talking about, Who opposes the measure, and how would an applicant prove identity? New York is again considering legalizing driver’s licenses [...]

March 26, 2019. This article discusses the campaign efforts by advocates that formed the coalition called Green Light NY to urge lawmakers to allow undocumented immigrants access to driver's licenses. The author highlights that driver's licenses is also a farm worker issue because many farm workers are undocumented and although they may live on the farm, they can't easily leave it for daily activities and to even get to the hospital for emergencies. The author goes on to discuss how many undocumented immigrants drive because [...]