The Christian Science Monitor Weekly - April 16, 2018

BRIEFING

Real ID: what Americans should expect

Preparations are under way for broad enforcement beginning in 2020

Changes are coming to identification requirements for residents of the United States. In response to a 2005 federal law,

states are ramping up security measures involved in issuing driver’s licenses and other identification cards.

Q: What are Real IDs?

A Real ID can be either an identification card or a driver’s
license that meets stepped-up federal standards. It will be
needed to access federal facilities, enter nuclear power plants,
and board federally regulated commercial aircraft.

Q: Why was legislation passed?

Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005 in response to 9/11:
Some of the hijackers aboard the four flights that crashed that
day used fraudulent IDs. The Real ID Act strives to make securing
fake IDs more difficult.
“Securing our identity documents is a crucial component to
keeping the commonwealth, and the country, safe,” said Pennsyl-
vania state Rep. Ed Neilson, a Democrat, when the state passed the
Pennsylvania Real ID Compliance Act in May 2017.

Q: What’s happening now?

The beginning of this year included several deadlines as the
Real ID process moves along. Jan. 22 was a key date for domes-
tic air travel: As of that day, any driver’s licenses used for iden-
tification at airports have to be issued by states that are either
in compliance with Real ID requirements or have been granted
an extension. Also, on Feb. 5, Real ID enforcement began for states or
territories that are not compliant and do not have an extension.
American Samoa is the only US region that is not compliant and
doesn’t have an extension (see map). Thirty states are compliant, and
20 have been granted extensions. The latter states are thus in the midst
of taking steps to meet Real ID requirements. Massachusetts, for exam-
ple, recently closed its Registry of Motor Vehicles offices for a weekend
so it could upgrade its computer system as part of the Real ID rollout.

Q: When will Real ID be enforced?
It depends on the state. For those that have been granted exten-
sions, Oct. 1, 2020, is the hard deadline. After that date, a Real ID will be
required to fly, access restricted and semi-restricted federal facilities,
and enter nuclear power plants.

Q: What do people need to apply for a Real ID card?
Applications for a Real ID can be made at a local department of
motor vehicles. The required documentation depends on personal

circumstances but is likely to include a Social Security card or tax form;

a birth certificate, passport, or immigration form; and two proofs of

state residency, such as a current utility bill.

Q: Will Real ID be required anytime people need proof of

identity?

Not necessarily. The Real ID Act does not apply to voting or regis-

tering to vote, attending court proceedings, accessing health services

(at hospitals, for example), entering public areas, or even driving per se.

Also, the law does not prohibit an agency from accepting other forms

of identification such as a US passport.

Q: How does this law apply to unauthorized immigrants?

The federal measures allow compliant states to issue driver’s licens-

es and identification cards to unauthorized immigrants. The cards are

required to state on their face and in the machine-readable zone that

they can’t be used for official federal purposes. Also, their design must

differentiate them from cards that meet Real ID standards.

However, several states issue noncompliant cards for various

reasons, so the Department of Homeland Security cautions against

assuming that holders of such cards are unauthorized immigrants.

Q: How will this affect beneficiaries of the Deferred Action

for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program?

The law allows states to issue Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses

and identification cards to those who provide valid evidence of having

approved deferred-action status. They must also have employment

authorization documents and Social Security numbers. These DACA in-

dividuals are allowed to hold temporary Real IDs until their expiration.

• Asia London Palomba / Staff writer

AP

NEW LOOK: Real ID cards will look

similar to current driver’s licenses,

except they’ll have a gold star in

the upper right corner.

AP

Okla.

N.M.

Utah Colo.

Ariz.

Nev.

Calif.

Ore.

Wash.

Idaho

Wyo.

Mont. N.D.

S.D.

Neb. Iowa

Mich.

Wis.

Ill.

Mo.

Ark.

Miss.Ala. Ga.

Fla.

TN

KY

Ohio

Pa.

N.Y.

Maine

S.C.

N.C.

W.Va.Va.

La.

Ind.

Minn.

Kan.

Texas

Md.

Del.

N.J.

Conn.

R.I.

Mass.

N.H.

Vt.

D.C.

Alaska

Hawaii

Real ID status of states and territories

In compliance Received extension Not compliant

SOURCE: US Department of Homeland Security JACOB TURCOTTE/STAFF

Puerto Rico

Guam American

Samoa

Northern

Mariana

Islands

US Virgin

Islands