Disrupting the Traffic Stop–to-Deportation Pipeline: The New York State Greenlight Law’s Intent and Implementation

This article analyzes the traffic stop–to-deportation pipeline in New York State, how it harms children of immigrants, and York’s Greenlight Law seeks to disrupt but has been hobbled by an implementation gap. It first establishes phenomenon documenting stops are a key cause deportations State. Second, (mostly US citizen) undocumented immigrants who more than 7 percent (more 300,000) State’s children. The makes these fear mistrust police; their educational, social, brain development; consumes family income with Mexican driver tax (costs incurred because parents could not get driver’s license). Third, should help remedy harms, gap leaves many vulnerable pipeline. is partly due pandemic, also driven political other factors that be addressed policy. Finally, variation implementing leave undisrupted lead unequal protection law place policy recommendations for stronger enactment reduce pipeline’s harms.