DHS to again allow New Yorkers to enroll in Trusted Traveler programs

The Department of Homeland Security has announced that it will lift its ban on Trusted Traveler programs for New York residents.

Key Points:

• Residents of the state of New York will once again be eligible to enroll and re-enroll in Trusted Traveler programs such as Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST.
• The change will be of limited immediate impact because operations are suspended at Trusted Traveler Program enrollment centers until at least Sept. 8 because of COVID-19.

Background: DHS suspended the enrollment of New York residents in Trusted Traveler programs in February, citing a New York law that limited information sharing between the New York Department of Motor Vehicles and DHS. DHS said Thursday that New York had amended the law in question to “expressly allow for information-sharing of NY DMV records ‘as necessary for an individual seeking acceptance into a trusted traveler program, or to facilitate vehicle imports and/or exports.”

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

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