New York Gov. Cuomo signs bill granting illegal immigrants driver’s licenses
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday night signed legislation granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants — shortly after the controversial measure passed the state Senate.
Cuomo’s action came despite throwing supporters a last-minute curveball by asking the state’s top civil attorney, Solicitor General Barbara Underwood, to review the measure for possible safety concerns — threatening to veto it if he didn’t like her assessment.
FILE: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. (AP)
“You could create a database for the feds to use to actually track down undocumented people,” Cuomo said on WAMC radio. “California passed a law, and they are now in litigation.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}But Underwood’s boss, Attorney General Tish James, later released a statement amid the Monday-night vote arguing that the bill is legally sound.
“The legislation is well-crafted and contains ample protections for those who apply for driver’s licenses. If this bill is enacted and challenged in court, we will vigorously defend it,” she said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The law takes 180 days to go into effect, meaning the first licenses will be available in December.
The measure on Monday passed the state Senate by a 33-29 count, often eliciting emotional remarks from both sides of the aisle during the floor vote.
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