Senate Democrat presses Noem on Real ID deadline

[AZJonnie]

3. How is this a 'new initiative', exactly?

The REAL ID act was passed in the aftermath of 9/11, and meant to go into effect in 2008. However, the enforcement of the requirement to provide Real ID compliant documentation to board commercial aircraft has been postponed over and over again. Most recently back in 2022, when the deadline was extended two years from 2023 to May 7, 2025.

I'm not saying I fundamentally agree with the whole idea behind the Act, but if anyone is surprised and/or still has not procured the needed ID, SEVENTEEN YEARS after it was first meant to be implemented? Outside of some fairly rare extenuating circumstances, citizens and green card holders mostly have themselves to blame, no offense intended to anyone

This being said, I find the whole idea of the Act to be pretty nefarious in the sense that it is NOT, effectively, just a means to determine identity. It also has an obvious intention of preventing any undocumented person from being able to fly. In Arizona, you need ALL those things mentioned in the article to get the Star on your license. A certified Birth Certificate or Passport, PLUS a copy of your Social Security card, PLUS proof of residency in AZ. It actually has more documentation requirements than getting a US passport, and it most certainly seems like its requirements are meant to establish at minimum a person's legal right to be in the USA generally, even if not expressly proving 'citizenship' (since green card holders can get one).

Lastly, I'd like to see someone ask the regime whether exceptions for flying w/o a Real Id are going to be granted in cases of their much-vaunted 'self-deportation' procedures?