FPI has the data on the issues that matter to New Yorkers. In February 2019, FPI’s report “Driving Together: Benefits of Allowing All New Yorkers to Apply for Licenses” looked at the effects of allowing all state residents, including undocumented immigrants, to apply for a driver’s license. Until 2003, New York State had allowed residents to apply for driver’s licenses without regard to their immigration status and 12 other states—plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico – allowed all residents who passed a driver’s test and meet other requirements to get a license.

The bill, known as #GreenLightNY, was passed by both the Assembly and Senate and signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo on June 17, 2019. FPI’s report was widely used by advocates and the media. Articles on #GreenLightNY that quoted FPI’s report appeared in the following outlets.

Read the report.

July

LI Herald, 7/18/2019, Residents React to State’s New Greenlight Bill

Hudson Independent, 7/5/2019, NY Lawmakers Approve Law to Restore Right to Obtain a Driver’s License

LI Herald.com, 7/5/2019, Reacting to Green Light Bill

June

Adirondack Daily Enterprise, 6/25/2019, Local County Clerks Oppose ‘Green Light’ License Law

NY Times,6/21/2019, Rebellion by County Clerks Over N.Y. Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

Suffolk Times podcast, 6/20/2019, ‘Green Light NY’ Bill Becomes Law, Granting Licenses to Undocumented Immigrants

BKReader, 6/19/2019, NY Greenlights Driver’s Licenses for the Undocumented

Legislative Gazette, 6/18/2019, Governor Signs Law Granting Driving Privileges to Undocumented Immigrants

Long Island Press, 6/18/2019, NY Pols OK Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

Niagara Frontier Communications, 6/18/2019, Ortt, Jacobs Speak Out on ‘Green Light Bill’

Patch.com,6/18/2019, Undocumented Immigrants To Get Driver’s Licenses In NY

RiverheadLocal, 6/18/2019, ‘Green Light’ Bill Becomes Law

The IslandNow, 6/18/2019, North Shore Politicians Vote Against Bill Granting Undocumented Immigrants Driver’s Licenses

Suffolk Times, 6/17/2019, Update: New York State Approves Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

NY Times, 6/16/2019, Progressives Vowed Driver’s Licenses for the Undocumented. Then the Suburbs Spoke Up

Times Herald-Record, 6/16/2019, My View: Equal Access to Licenses Will Make Roads Safer for Everyone

WSJ,6/16/2019, New York Bill Would Grant Undocumented Immigrants Driver’s Licenses

Published Reporter, 6/14/2019, Bill To Allow Illegal Immigrants NYS Drivers Licenses Clears Assembly

Cincinatti.com, 6/13/2019, Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants May Soon be a Reality in New York

Gannet web service, 6/13/2019

Newsweek, 6/13/2019, New York Lawmakers Vote to Give Undocumented Immigrants Driver’s Licenses ‘In the Best Interest of the Entire State‘

Poughkeepsie Journal, 6/13/2019, Driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants may soon be a reality in New York

RiverheadLocal, 6/13/2019, Assembly OKs Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

Watertown Daily Times, 6/13/2019, Assembly Allows for Undocumented Licenses over GOP Objections

Daily News, 6/12/2019, NY Assembly Passes Measure Granting Undocumented Immigrants Access to Driver’s Licenses

Democrat & Chronicle, 6/12/2019, New York Assembly Green Lights Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

WHAM 13, 6/12/2019, Undocumented Immigrants One Step Closer to Obtaining Driver’s Licenses

AfricanGlobe.net, 6/11/2019 Pimp Preacher Al Sharpton Now Fighting For The ‘Rights’ Of Illegal Immigrants

SI Live, 6/8/2019, Op-ed by David Vergara, Make the Road New York, Undocumented Immigrants Deserve Driver’s Licenses

GOPUSA, 6/7/2019 Al Sharpton: Illegal Aliens Must Have Driver’s Licenses, Calls it a ‘civil rights concern’

Daily News,6/6/2019, Rev. Al Sharpton Joins Push to Allow Undocumented Immigrants to Obtain Driver’s Licenses, Calls it a ‘civil rights concern’

MSN News, 6/6/2019, Rev. Al Sharpton Joins Push to Allow Undocumented Immigrants to Obtain Driver’s Licenses, Calls it a ‘civil rights concern’

TheNewsCommentator, 6/19/2019, Rev. Al Sharpton Joins Push to Allow Undocumented Immigrants to Obtain Driver’s Licenses, Calls it a ‘civil rights concern’

Times Union, 6/6/2019, Driver’s License Bill Moves Forward in Assembly

WBFO 88.7, 6/6/2019, Mychajliw Releases Report Opposing Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

WNYC,6/6/2019, Without a Driver’s License on the East End of Long Island

Times Herald-Record, 6/2/2019, My View: NYS Must Restore Drivers Licenses for All

May

5/31/2019,5/15/2019, Buffalo News Letter: Business Council’s Nod Bolsters Green Light Bill

Black Star News, 5/30/2019, NY Business Leaders Push for Passage of Immigrant Green Light Bill

Buffalo News, 5/29/2019, Business Council Backs Controversial Immigrant Driver’s License Bill

Daily News, 5/29/2019, Allowing Undocumented Immigrants Access to Driver’s Licenses Would be Boon for Both New York and New Jersey, Study Says

NY Post, 5/29/2019, Top NY Biz Group Backs Driver’s Licenses for Illegal Immigrants

InterMountain Farm & Ranch, 5/24/2019, Those in U.S. Illegally Push for License to Drive

Daily News, 5/21/2019, Advocates Put Pressure on State Senate to Back Legislation Granting Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

Gotham Gazette,5/21/2019, Restoring Access to Driver’s Licenses Will Make New York Roads Safer

Shelter Island Reporter, 5/21/2019, Bill in State Legislature to Grant Licenses to Undocumented Immigrants

East Hampton Star, 5/15/2019, Give It GreenLight

Suffolk Times, 5/15/2019, North Fork Group Touts Benefits of Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

Oswego County News Now, 5/13/2019,  Immigrant License Issue Sparks Upstate Revolt

Adirondack Daily Enterprise, 5/9/2019, Mixed Reactions to ‘Green Light’ Bill

Buffalo News, 5/5/2019, Push for Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Intensifies at Capitol

WAER, 5/2/2019, Immigrant Driver’s License Bill Advances in Assembly

WBFO, 5/2/2019, Immigrant Driver’s License Bill Advances in Assembly

WRVO, 5/2/2019, Immigrant Driver’s License Bill Advances in Assembly

Daily News, 5/2/2019, Lawmakers Moving Forward on Bill Allowing Undocumented Immigrants to Apply for Diver’s Licenses in New York

Times Union, 5/1/2019, Immigrant Driver’s License Bill Advances in Assembly

Times Union, 5/1/2019, Momentum Building for Driver’s Licenses

WAMC, 5/1/2019, Immigrant Drivers’ License Bill Advances In NY Assembly

WAMC, 5/1/2019, Immigrant driver’s license bill advances in Assembly

April

The Record, 4/27/2019, Readers View: Facts Justify “Green Light” Driver’s Licenses

Newsday, 4/23/2019, Advocates Note Benefits of Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Residents

RiverheadLocal, 4/13/2019, Getting Drivers Licensed is in Everybody’s Best Interests

Innovate Long Island, 4/12/2019, Vehicle Of Change: Licensing Undocumented Residents

NY Times, 4/12/2019, Let Undocumented Immigrants Drive

Spectrum News,4/12/2019, Supporters Hopeful Driver’s Licenses Will Extend to Undocumented Immigrants

Daily News, 4/8/2019, Rep. Espaillat endorses New York State measure for driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status

NBC CT, 4/8/2019, Undocumented Immigrants Push States for Driver’s Licenses: ‘We Have to Work’

March

The American Prospect, 3/19/2019, Will Immigrants Find Themselves in the Driver’s Seat?

Gotham Gazette, 3/18/2019, An Agenda to Protect New York Immigrants and Benefit the Entire State