Real ID Madness – Are You Ready?

It’s crunch time, and there’s no way around it.

The Real ID can, which has repeatedly been kicked down the road, has come to the end of its journey. May 7 is the drop-dead date to obtain this federally mandated form of identification for those who want to fly domestically. This means that those who want to board a plane traveling within the United States, enter certain government facilities or military installations, or gain entrance to a nuclear power plant must either have a Real ID or have their passport ready.

The Real ID concept does not emanate from President Donald Trump but is a holdover from the George W. Bush era. The deadline for compliance has passed from president to president until now. “This closes the gaping vulnerabilities Biden’s policies created, preventing criminals and potential terrorists from exploiting our aviation system, as seen during 9/11 when fraudulent IDs enabled attacks,” a recent Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memo asserted.

How to Get a Real ID

Those who wish to fly domestically need to go to their local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office and show at least two forms of identification to obtain a Real ID. This includes but is not limited to a passport, proof of your Social Security number, or a birth certificate. Copies of these forms of identification are not accepted; you must bring the real thing. You may also be required to show pieces of mail with your full name and address as proof of residency. Exact requirements vary from state to state.

At the DMV, you will be asked to fill out a form and present the documentation. If everything goes smoothly, you will be issued a new driver’s license with a small star or flag in the upper right-hand corner that signifies it is a Real ID. It sounds like a pain – and it is — but where things really get dicey is for those who are not US citizens.

Prior to Real ID enforcement, 19 states and the District of Columbia made it legal for illegal immigrants to obtain a driver’s license, ostensibly to decrease the number of drivers who operate vehicles without insurance and increase safety by making them pass a driver’s test. Under the new guidelines, illegals will still be able to fly. However, they will need to show either a foreign passport or a US Citizenship and Immigration Service Employment Authorization card, along with other forms of ID. In a nutshell, it’s possible to board a plane if you are illegally in the United States, but it’s a heavy lift.

A DHS memo obtained by Fox News last week stated, “[T]he only place an illegal alien should be flying is home. Under Secretary [of Homeland Security] Kristi Noem’s leadership, illegal aliens will be barred from domestic flights, with one exception: Illegal aliens self-deporting on international flights will be allowed to board without a Real ID, encouraging their exit from the U.S.” Indicating they mean business, the DHS website  features a “Countdown to REAL ID Enforcement.” It also displays an interactive map of the United States, which connects the user to an individual state’s requirements. What they don’t tell you is that long lines are forming at DMVs across the nation. Not normally a paragon of efficiency, most DMVs — as hilariously characterized in the movie Zootopia — are run by slow-moving sloths.

Until now, many states have allowed people to make appointments to get a Real ID, but as the deadline nears, residents and DMVs are scrambling to get the job done. DHS estimates that approximately 60% of those needing a Real ID will be in compliance by May 7. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that hours-long waits and lines extending several blocks are being reported in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Illinois.

For frequent fliers, there is no time to waste, and if they want to “feel free to move about the cabin,” they had better block out a fair amount of time for the sloths at the DMV to get the job done.