VESTAL, NY (WSKG) - Amid lawsuits fighting a bill that allows illegal immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses, Binghamton Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo says the measure is still good for New York.
Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Green Light Bill into law last month. Several state and local officials have criticized it, saying it requires them to ignore federal law.
Lupardo, a Democrat, said she understands these concerns but believes the law will help both farmers and businesses.
“When you have 10,000 farm workers out there, coming from other countries, with green cards and otherwise, that we rely on," Lupardo said. "Not just farm workers, but people in the hotel/motel industry, and restaurants, people may not realize how much we rely on these individuals to do services that many people don’t want to provide.”
Lupardo voted for the bill in June.
On July 9th, Erie County Clerk Michael Kearns filed a lawsuit to challenge whether the law is constitutional.