Some NY Clerks Won't Give Licenses To Those In U.S. Illegally

WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Dave Lucas

Published June 19, 2019 at 3:47 PM EDT

The South Pearl Street DMV office in Albany. — A DMV office.

Some county clerks in New York say they will defy a new state law authorizing driver's licenses for immigrants who are in the United States illegally.

Erie County Clerk Michael Kearns says Wednesday he's going to federal court with his concerns that the law signed by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo Tuesday conflicts with federal policy.

Kearns says Buffalo-area motor vehicle offices won't grant driver's licenses to those here illegally and will send applicants to a state-run auto bureau in Syracuse, more than two hours away by car.

Clerks in Rensselaer, Niagara and Allegany counties are among those who've also told local media outlets they will not grant licenses to people in the country illegally.

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Dave Lucas

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.

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