Global entry enrollment suspended for NY residents

And can California be far behind ?? Glad we got our GE cards last month!
Backup plan would be downloading the Global Passport app and paying the $15 per year fee to keep your entire party's data on file for expedited entry.

Thanks Dale! I hope Massachusetts isn't next. I have my Global Entry, but my husband does not yet. He's been "meaning to" before our Greece trip this year, but has not as of today. He'll have to start the process and hope he gets it before the same thing happens here. Appreciate the heads up.

i am in the process of an application
need to do interview
is si too late

My husband & I have our interview on Tuesday! Sounds like I've just wasted $200.

Perhaps NY state will change the policy that led to this?

Not traveling as a political act?

The reverse of quid pro quo—a tit for tat— will be in court quickly, a stay issued until reviewed...don’t cancel your appointment yet.

Looks like the argument is over "real ID" that New York and most states issue. New York just passed a "green light act" to allow anyone, regardless of immigration status, to get them.

Real ID was intended to allow most Americans on domestic flights to show only their driver's license.

Now we'll have to show passports for domestic flights because the idea of increasing security of regular driver's licenses is being undermined. I guess states could have saved all the money they spent to build a real ID system?

States with RealID will still be able to use DL's for ID. Others will need either a passport or another form of ID such as their Global Entry card.

New York was compliant with Real ID until this past December when the DMV laws changed allowing undocumented aliens to get a Drivers License.

New Yorkers are still eligible for the Enhanced Driver License which is acceptable for Real ID. They have an American flag on them. Enhanced Driver Licenses are actually harder to get than passports, they require more items of ID be presented to prove address as well as nationality.

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/9f88782428ae6bbda4002d4c70f947ac00a9b119/c=0-28-491-305/local/-/media/2018/07/17/Westchester/Westchester/636674140893919022-Enhanced-ID.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=1200

My husband & I have our interview on Tuesday! Sounds like I've just wasted $200.

If you have your interview scheduled then you already passed your background check. You should be good to go.

New York was compliant with Real ID until this past December when the DMV laws changed allowing undocumented aliens to get a Drivers License.

This doesn't make sense since AFAIK every state offers 2 licenses: Real ID compliant (with the star in the upper corner) and then the regular one that says, "Not valid for federal purposes" or something like that, e.g.

https://i.imgur.com/I6ahzhV.jpg

https://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/MNDriversLicenseNotFedIDThumb.png

Show up without the proper ID and you will be issued the regular one without the star. Is NY really not issuing DLs without the star?

This makes no sense. As Tom pointed out, states issue Real ID, and non-Real ID compliant licenses/ID cards, so this looks like what the article says it is: retaliation against sanctuary cities.

Tom_MN, not all states are Real ID compliant yet. Oklahoma has been asking for (and receiving) extensions for years. Our state legislature voted some years ago to refuse to comply, but they have had to back down. Real ID compliant OK licenses should finally be available later this year. Maybe.

Why not just shut down the GW bridge? Worked great last time.

Looks like NY does issue non-compliant DLs, https://www.lohud.com/picture-gallery/news/2018/11/27/ny-drivers-licenses-real-id-enhanced-photos/2124074002/

Jane: Sorry for you https://www.dhs.gov/real-id

What an inconvenience and if states give residents the right to opt out of the Real ID process, then a needless inconvenience.

It still doesn’t make sense for it to affect global entry enrollment. You need a passport to apply, you don’t even need a drivers license.

It still doesn’t make sense for it to affect global entry enrollment.

The letter claims that DHS used the state system as part of their background check process so it seems a valid point on the surface.

Since undocumented aliens cannot get a Real ID DL or an Enhanced DL, it seems that the state could share the data of those 2 categories without compromising the identity and location of the undocumented ones who want to comply with state driving laws and get a (non-compliant) license.

I've held an Enhanced DL since moving here 8 yrs ago. I have to wonder if DHS will suspend our ability to drive to Canada with it (I have a passport, but that's not the issue).

But yes, this is clearly retaliatory... It seems that they should only be able to suspend those that use a NY DL for a GE application (DL isn't required, but is frequently used). If someone happens to live in NY but uses a retired military ID, why should they be denied?

Why not just shut down the GW bridge? Worked great last time.

Although he got some practice "working the cones" last time, maybe Chris Christie is unavailable for this round.

I believe NY is not the only state at risk for this. Maybe the one with the biggest target on its back (multiple targets, in fact...home of the "SDNY") , but there are other states with various issues around drivers' licenses (including my own state of Washington). This could spread. Glad I got my renewal in last year. What a mess!

Some background on what's been going on that was stopped by NY.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/07/07/fbi-ice-find-state-drivers-license-photos-are-gold-mine-facial-recognition-searches/

Tom_MN, thats fantastic! Should really help with law enforcement.

But this facial recognition data base has no relationship with shutting down Global Entry. If anything, having people's faces on file would facilitate GE. This is simply harassment; will there will be more and more harassment if there are no checks and balances?

As to those New Yorkers with appointments/waiting for approval, read this post from a CBP officer over on FlyerTalk...

" We just got word that NY residents will be prevented from applying online for GE.

Conditionally approved applicants and those in "pending risk assessment" phases will be cancelled, and refunded.

Current members of NY will retain their membership until it expires."

Link to FlyerTalk thread here...

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trusted-travelers/2007770-dhs-secretary-suspending-trusted-travelers-programs-ny-state-residents.html

I've removed a few posts. This is a reminder to avoid politics so that this thread can remain for any travelers affected by this.

Global Entry is certainly a a much loved convenience, but it is not a right. If the federal government felt recent NY legislation would compromise the program, I can understand why it might take action. I hope this issue is resolved soon.

I agree with Carol and this affects me. I’ll have to sit in the wheelchair longer at immigration if this is still in effect when my GE expires.

TSA Pre-Check at least can be separate so if this still is an effect near the expiration of my GE, I will renew TSA pre-check alone. That to me is very valuable.

There is some incorrect info in the posts above. NY is not issuing ”Real ID” licenses to undocumented immigrants. They are issuing regular Drivers Licenses. The issue is about access to NY state data.

Per the NY Times

New York is one of more than a dozen states that have passed laws allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, contending it would make roads safer, provide more economic opportunity and reduce the fear of being deported for a driving violation.

But unlike other states, New York included a provision that restricted federal immigration agencies’ access to Department of Motor Vehicles records without a court order, federal officials said.

Although it still seems petty to single out a state. Global entry doesn’t mean a free pass to come and go from the USA as please. You still need your passport. It’s just a way to expedite the often horrible lines at immigration. It’s a nice convenience for us, the leisure traveler. It’s a godsend for the business traveler that has just spent two weeks in some remote city in Qatar negotiating oil rights, not strolling along the Champs D’elysees.

By the way, the NY Times as a very interesting op-ed on this. I’m trying to stay apolitical on this so won’t post a link but it starts ”You From New York? ...”

I think it’s odd that Mexican nationals, for example, are eligible for the Global Entry program but not New Yorkers.

Laura: The webmaster deleted my post clarifying that NY was not issuing Real ID licenses to undocumented aliens, probably because I was also replying to a post I found offensive that was also deleted.

When the NY Times editorial page is mentioned, one can no longer stay apolitical given that paper’s overt slant.

As a New Yorker, I initially freaked out when I heard about this. Like other legal restrictions by state and local laws that are already or will be newly enacted that curtail what we can have or do, we have to adjust or move away.

At least TSA Pre-Check is independent of this.

I hope this is ok with the Webmaster.

Pssst. An op ed isn’t the NYT editorial page.

I noticed on my last entry into the US the Globsl Entry kiosk no longer required I give my finger prints, but was more specific on the photo being centered correctly. I guess the benefit is already paying off. Well done Feds.

Dale- please do not confuse the ignorant with facts, they can’t handle it.

And thank you for informing the forum of the issue and changes- in a straight up and factual manner.

Travel safe,

One Fast Bob

This is from yesterday but I learned a bit from it. I never knew for example that using Mobile Passport temporarily suspends Global Entry status. https://thepointsguy.com/news/global-entry-new-york-questions/

If I had an interview with CPB coming up and lived in New York, I would go online and choose a later interview date. Maybe things will change in a month, but going in for an interview now forces action on your account under the current policy.

Stray thought: I had understood that the background checks for TSA Pre and Global Entry were the same, but the $15 difference between the 2 programs covers the cost of the Global Entry card (TSA Pre does not get a plastic card with photo). So not seeing why TSA pre can go ahead with background checks that do not include access to the Driver License database but GE cannot. I could have this wrong.

Another stray thought: Since Global Entry is still open to Mexican nationals, it's conceivable that an undocumented Mexican living in NYC could go ahead and apply for Global Entry using a Mexican address, but her American citizen neighbor living next door cannot apply.

NEXUS SENTRI and all other programs similar to Global Entry are also impacted for New York residents.

Once again, if you already have any of these that are fully activated, they are not being cancelled, just no new or renewal applicants even those at the final interview stage are being allowed to go forward for residents of New York.