Final Challenge to New York “Green Light” Law is Dismissed

The case was brought by a clerk working for Rensselaer County, arguing that the Green Light law violated federal immigration law, and thus he should not be forced to issue driver’s licenses that contravene federal law. However, the federal district court judge dismissed the case, stating that the clerk had no standing to challenge the law. This means that the case’s merits weren’t even considered, potentially leaving open a challenge in the future from someone who can establish standing to contest the Green Light law. New York’s Green Light law was passed to allow people without Social Security numbers to obtain valid New York State driver’s licenses, provided they have some other kind of identification (such as a passport or driver’s license from another country) and are able to pass a driving test, like any other applicant for a driver’s license. This helps undocumented immigrants to obtain work, transport their families, and get social services that would otherwise be unavailable without valid US identification. Objections to the Green Light law have centered around the fear that the new rules would be exploited to circumvent federal immigration law, but thus far, those protests have been unable to halt the law from coming into effect. In this hostile landscape, it’s more important than ever that you have legal representation for your immigration case. The lawyers at Bretz & Coven, LLP are experienced in handling various immigration matters, including asylum applications, visa applications and more. For more information or to schedule a consultation at our New York City or New Jersey law office, call (212) 267-2555.