New York Rejoins Global Entry Program

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it will lift the existing ban on New York residents’ participation in an innovative travel plan.

The Department of Homeland Security said it would resume allowing New York state residents to enroll in Global Entry and other Trusted Traveler Programs. All applicants undergo a rigorous background check and in-person interview before enrollment.

Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States.

Global Entry Members enter the USA through automatic kiosks at select airports.

This announcement on July 23, 2020, comes after the U.S. federal government suspended the state of New York’s access in February 2020, over a state law expanding driver's license access.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state legislature amended the Green Light Law to expressly allow for information-sharing of records “as necessary for an individual seeking acceptance into a trusted traveler program, or to facilitate vehicle imports and/or exports.”

However, this program continues to be on hold.

‘Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of minimizing exposure and controlling the spread of the COVID-19 disease outbreak, all US CBP Trusted Traveler Program Enrollment Centers will suspend operations until at least September 8, 2020, stated the new press statement.

This temporary closure includes all public access to Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST enrollment locations. 

‘We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience through this process. Enrollment on Arrival remains operational at participating airports.’

At airports, program members proceed to Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable passport or U.S. permanent resident card, place their fingerprints on the scanner for fingerprint verification and complete a customs declaration. The kiosk issues the traveler a transaction receipt and directs the traveler to baggage claim and the exit.

While Global Entry’s goal is to speed travelers through the process, members may still be selected for further examination when entering the United States. 

Any violation of the program’s terms and conditions will result in the appropriate enforcement action and termination of the traveler’s membership privileges.

“We appreciate the information sharing to CBP for the trusted travel program, which enables DHS to move forward and begin once again processing New York residents under the Trusted Travel Program.”  

“Nonetheless, local New York law continues to maintain provisions that undermine the security of the American people and purport to criminalize information sharing between law enforcement entities,” Acting DHS Secretary Wolf stated.

Travel alert news published by Vax-Before-Travel.