WASHINGTON _ House Democrats said the Trump administration's ban on New York State residents participating in U.S. travel pre-screening programs is a "senseless, retaliatory decision" that must be reversed.
"Your justification for this sudden policy shift appears to be no more than a pretext," the Democrats, including Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, wrote in a letter to acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf that was released on Saturday.
The move change "may be an improper attempt to use official DHS policy to punish the people of New York" for a disagreement with the Trump administration, the lawmakers said in the letter, also signed by Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney of New York.
The comments follow Thursday's blocking by federal authorities of New York State residents from joining programs that travelers use to quickly move through airport security and customs. The administration cited new limits on federal access to state driver's license data aimed at protecting undocumented immigrants. The department will no longer let New York residents sign up for or renew enrollments in Trusted Traveler programs such as Global Entry.
New York's legislation restricting Customs and Border Protection access to the records "makes us less safe and shields criminals," CBP Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan said in a statement announcing the change.
Democratic Reps. Kathleen Rice, Yvette Clarke, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York also signed the letter, which was dated Friday.
Wolf, who assumed his role in November, will comment further on the policy changes and challenges during his scheduled appearance on "Sunday Morning Futures" on Fox News Channel.
New York residents enrolled in the Global Entry program can continue using their passes until they expire, but between 150,000 and 200,000 people per year will be unable to renew their participation.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James said Friday she'll sue to block the ban. "This is political retribution, plain and simple," James, a Democrat and Trump critic who'd previously sued the administration over immigration policy including the so-called Muslim travel ban, said in a statement.
Global Entry gives those arriving in the U.S. expedited passage through customs for five years following a background check and interview with DHS. It's also linked to the department's "TSA Pre-Check" program, giving most Global Entry members expedited passage through airport security.
"We recognize that many New York residents and businesses will be negatively affected by this change, but we cannot compromise the safety and security of our homeland," Morgan said in the statement. "When states take negative measures that hinder our ability to protect our great country, we must respond."
President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter that Andrew Cuomo, the New York governor, had canceled a meeting on the topic.
"Governor Cuomo wanted to see me this weekend," Trump tweeted. "He just canceled. Very hard to work with New York _ So stupid."
