State Immigration and Licensing Policy

A federal judge rejected the Trump administration’s Justice Department challenge to New York’s “Green Light” law — brought against Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James — finding the state can continue issuing standard driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants despite DOJ arguments that the law is a “frontal assault” on federal immigration law, unlawfully regulates the federal government and impedes access to DMV data (including a notification requirement to undocumented holders when immigration agencies request information). New York says the law improves road safety by bringing unlicensed drivers into a tested, insured system, applies only to standard (not commercial) licenses, allows applicants without Social Security numbers to use foreign passports or foreign driver’s licenses plus testing, and has drawn criticism from some law‑enforcement groups while state officials defended it.