New York law enforcement and business leaders continue to call onto Senate Democrats to introduce a vote for the Green Light bill, including the more recent support of Tompkins County Sheriff and, most recently, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark during this weekend’s SOMOS gathering in Albany

Over the past few weeks, FWD.us has joined a growing coalition calling for immediate legislative action in Albany.

FWD.us Director of State Immigration Campaigns Pamela Chomba participated in a panel discussion to discuss the urgency of driver’s licenses for undocumented New Yorkers. The event, “Driver’s Licenses For All: The Path, the Benefits, and How it Will Work” was hosted by City and State and the New York Immigration Coalition at the New York Law School.

During the event, Chomba joined Fiscal Policy Institute’s Deputy Director David Dyssegaard Kallick and New York Times Immigration Reporter Christina Goldbaum to discuss the economic benefits of providing driver’s licenses to all. Chomba said, “If our state representatives are serious about protecting the safety of immigrant New Yorkers, all New Yorkers, and our economy, they must be supportive of [The Green Light] bill.”

Earlier this week, Chomba joined other immigration experts and advocates at an event hosted by The American Jewish Council’s Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council to discuss the federal immigration priorities that all New Yorkers should support like passing a permanent legislative solution for DACA, Temporary Protected States (TPS), and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). Pamela joined Steve Choi, Cyrus Mehta, and Andrea Saenz to discuss high-skilled immigration and how the tech sector is mobilizing business to support important reforms to the system. On a later panel, she shared her personal story as an advocate driving state-based and national reform efforts, and as a DACA recipient.

Chomba said, “During every interview, I’m asked what my 2 or 5 year plan is — but my reality is different. I can’t make plans because my life is waiting for injunction after injunction to know if the next month I will still have DACA. We need a permanent solution urgently, and not just for Dreamers like me, but for TPS and DED recipients as well.”

Expanding licenses for undocumented New York residents – who must follow the same process as everyone else – keeps families together and makes our roads safer. Every New Yorker who goes through the process and examination required by the State should be able to earn a drivers license, including undocumented immigrants. This will make our roads and highways safer and help prevent New York state children from being separated from their parents. To learn more and take action, visit FWD.us/action/ny-drive.

Tomorrow, FWD.us will join The Green Light Campaigns Day of Action to allow access to driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants.