skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Green Light NY Law Now in Effect

play audio
Play

Tuesday, December 17, 2019   

NEW YORK — Immigration advocates are celebrating this week as New York restored the right of all state residents to obtain a driver's license, including undocumented immigrants.

In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attack, then-Gov. George Pataki issued an executive order requiring all driver's license applicants to have a Social Security number. But on Monday, the Green Light New York law took effect, clearing the way for all drivers in the state to get a license regardless of immigration status. And the law prohibits Department of Motor Vehicle offices and county clerks from sharing personal information with immigration officials.

According to Yatziri Tovar, media specialist at Make the Road New York, the law will benefit an estimated 700,000 state residents.

"This means being able to drive to their children’s schools, to doctors appointments. This is a huge impact to immigrant families all over New York state,” Tovar said.

Twelve other states and Washington, D.C., allow undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers licenses. And on Monday, New Jersey passed a law similar to the Green Light New York law.

A federal lawsuit challenging the New York measure was dismissed last week, and one county clerk had threatened to post signs with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement tip line number at DMV offices. But Tovar saw no such implied threats at a DMV office in Queens.

"What we saw at the DMV were hundreds of people applying for a driver's license and we saw that DMV staff were outside making sure that everyone had an application,” she said.

She added those seeking a driver's license can file their application at any DMV office in the state.

Tovar said Make the Road New York is having a series of informational sessions in New York City, Long Island and Westchester County this week to help those who want to apply for a license access information about what is involved.

"To know what documents they need to bring to the DMV, what the process looks like,” she said. “And we’ll, even have a legal expert on site who will be able to answer any questions."

The time and location of the information sessions are available at licensesNY.org.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021