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.
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