Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) criticized President Trump for his decision to block New York state from the Global Entry program, calling it “corrupt, illegal, and authoritarian.”
Ocasio-Cortez responded to a tweet from the president said he was meeting with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) to discuss the move, and warning that the state “must stop all of its unnecessary lawsuits & harassment, start cleaning itself up, and lowering taxes.”
Ocasio-Cortez said Trump is extorting the state to lawsuits against his administration and family.
“Trump is publicly admitting that he is holding Global Entry for New Yorkers hostage in exchange for dropping lawsuits against him and his family’s lawbreaking behavior,” she tweeted.
Last week, the Department of Homeland Security said it would block New Yorkers from enrolling in trusted traveler programs that allow them to bypass long security and customs lines at airports after the state passed a law that allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses.
DHS cited security concerns as their initial reason for blocking the state from the trusted travelers program.
The administration’s move is seen by some as part of a series of decisions a newly emboldened Trump has made after being acquitted by the Senate in his impeachment trial.
In her tweet, Ocasio-Cortez pointed to Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine), two moderates who voted to acquit president Trump on impeachment charges last week.
“Hope Collins and Murkowski are proud of their vote,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted.
Walter Shaub, the former director of the Office of Government Ethics, praised Ocasio-Cortez for her comments.
“First member of Congress to speak out. Where are the others? Where is the media? This is Ukraine all over again,” he tweeted.