It's the punch line to a bad joke that started 20 years ago when Congress passed the REAL ID Act.

Only the government could spend 20 years creating a national ID that no one wanted and that apparently doesn’t even work as a national ID.

But that’s what the federal government has accomplished with the REAL ID, which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) now considers unreliable, even though getting one requires providing proof of citizenship or lawful status in the country.

In a December 11 court filing, Philip Lavoie, the acting assistant special agent in charge of DHS’ Mobile, Alabama, office, stated that, “REAL ID can be unreliable to confirm U.S. citizenship.”

    • Bakkoda@lemmy.world
      7·
      6 hours ago

      There was a pretty active intimidation campaign in NY for a few years. No RealID? You can’t travel, can’t cross the border (Canada) can’t fly etc etc.

      • LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world
        1·
        5 hours ago

        For years I thought it was DHS saying you couldn’t get on a plane without one. Also they are trying to say they will charge you money for an alternative ID soon. Pretty stupid.

    • EldritchFemininity@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      2·
      9 hours ago

      At least in Massachusetts, they’ve been pushing back making it mandatory since it rolled out. Every time it gets close to the deadline for when it’s supposed to go into effect, they push it back another couple of years.