Top Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security Committee have asked the Trump administration for answers more than potentially marginalized American travelers Actual ID requirements It will come into effect on May 7th.
Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem about plans to begin enforcement that day after President Donald Trump took DHS’ discretion on when to commence enforcement of the chronically delayed Bush-era law.
“Following the recommendations of the 9/11 committee, Congress was passed, and then President George W. Bush signed the Real Identity Act of 2005.
“Recognizing the time and complexity involved in switching to a driver’s license and identification card that complies with an actual ID, President Trump signed a law in 2020 that confirmed the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security as to when to commence implementation of this requirement.”
Traveler’s real ID deadlines, access to some federal buildings is quickly approaching
Senator John Jack Reed of Rhode Island, yes. (Reuters)
The delays continued throughout three presidential administrations due to concerns over the complexity of updating DMVs and other systems in 50 states, seven territories and one district.
Then, during the Covid-19 pandemic hit, state agencies were given more room to enact actual IDs until the DHS finally resolved on the date May 7th this year.
“According to the TSA, about 20% of air travel still use identification formats that do not comply with actual ID requirements,” Read wrote in NOEM.
“In fact, millions of Americans still don’t have actual ID-compliant licenses or acceptable alternative forms of identification, such as passports and military identification cards.”
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He quoted the secretary’s public comments at the White House. She doesn’t want to see anyone not able to board a flight or need to have an identification of actual ID compliant.
“As it is likely that many travelers do not have compliant IDs by May 7, please explain how you will ensure the steps TSA security checkpoints are taking to handle travelers arriving at airport security checkpoints without any delays and without any real identity-compliant identification,” concluded Reed.
Americans grounded without real ID, long DMV turns to other options
After the passage in 2005, Real ID became one of the few political issues with partisan support and opposition.
Conservative and violated immigrant groups praised the Bush administration’s work, and warned gun rights groups and libertarian-oriented lawmakers that it expanded the ubiquitous proverb “Big Brother.”
Labor groups like Hillary Clinton and liberals have also expressed reservations about the law.
They are R-Ky. I found a recent agreement from Rep. Thomas Massey. He wrote to X that those who believe that the actual ID is supposed to strengthen the integrity of the election are “awfully disappointed.”
“Someone lied to you, or you’re engaged in a hopeful idea. Don’t shoot the messenger,” Massie said.
In its website’s statement, DHS pushed back the bill using real IDs to build a new “database” in an obvious response to concerns like Massie.
“Real IDs are a national standard set, not a national ID,” the agency wrote.
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Airport departure committee (istock)
“REAL IDs do not create a federal database of driver’s license information. Each jurisdiction continues to issue its own unique licenses, maintain its own records, access those records, and control them under any circumstances.”
“The purpose of a real ID is to make the identity document more consistent and secure.”
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for DHS spokesperson, told Fox News Digital:
“DHS will respond to official communications through official channels,” McLaughlin added.
Elizabeth Elkind and Deirdre Heavey of Fox News contributed to this report.
