Expect fireworks as President Trump and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo prepare to meet at the White House on Thursday for a tête-à-tête on immigration. Last week, Acting DHS Secretary Ken Cuccinelli said New Yorkers would no longer be allowed to enroll or re-enroll in traveler programs like Global Entry, unless the Empire State agrees to allow the government to access its DMV database. The new rules came in light of New York's new "Green Light Law," which allows illegal immigrants to apply for driver's licenses and bars federal officials from checking the DMV records to determine which applicants are illegals. We've covered the law and AGs' reactions to it extensively here at Townhall.
Cuomo appeared on CNN Thursday morning before his meeting with the president, calling the administration's latest move, "extortion."
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is expected to meet with President Trump to discuss the Global Entry ban for New Yorkers, says the ban is "not rational. It's extortion" https://t.co/U91Wb9A1g7 pic.twitter.com/ncCBPDvfOI
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) February 13, 2020
The governor insists he's trying to work with the president.
“I’m cooperating," Cuomo said. "Will you now stop doing what you’re doing, which is gratuitous and retaliatory? I believe they’re going to say no because there’s a memo leaked from the Department of Homeland Security, which they agree is a memo from the agency, which says we need to punish these states. This is what happens when an administration believes they are above the law.”
Two big personalities, one heated topic. This should get interesting.
I’m seeing Governor Cuomo today at The White House. He must understand that National Security far exceeds politics. New York must stop all of its unnecessary lawsuits & harrassment, start cleaning itself up, and lowering taxes. Build relationships, but don’t bring Fredo!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 13, 2020