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The case for REAL ID: Why Congress passed this requirement in 2005

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Original Story by Fox News
April 29, 2025
The case for REAL ID: Why Congress passed this requirement in 2005

Context:

The REAL ID Act, established in 2005, aims to enhance national security by standardizing identification requirements across the U.S. to prevent the exploitation of ID systems by terrorists. The law emerged from the 9/11 Commission's recommendations after several hijackers had used fraudulent documents to obtain legitimate state IDs. Despite its inception, implementation has been delayed multiple times due to logistical challenges, privacy concerns, and state resistance. With the final deadline set for May 7, Americans must present REAL ID-compliant cards for domestic flights, amid debates on its necessity given the lack of flight-based terrorist incidents in recent years. Critics argue the measure raises issues of privacy and federal overreach, while the Trump administration emphasized its importance for ID verification and election integrity.

Dive Deeper:

  • The REAL ID Act was passed in 2005 following the 9/11 Commission's recommendations to establish national ID standards to prevent terrorist exploitation of state-issued IDs.

  • Implementation of REAL ID has faced repeated delays due to states' logistical challenges, privacy concerns, and resistance to perceived federal overreach.

  • The act requires states to verify key documents like birth certificates and Social Security numbers, with IDs incorporating tamper-resistant security features.

  • Critics question the urgency of REAL ID, noting the absence of flight-based terrorist attacks since 9/11, and express concerns about privacy and the potential for a national ID card.

  • The final deadline for compliance is set for May 7, requiring REAL ID for domestic flights and access to certain federal facilities, with ongoing debates about its broader implications.

  • Civil liberties groups, such as the ACLU, worry that the REAL ID could eventually be used to control access to government benefits and employment.

  • The Trump administration advocated for the implementation as a means to restore integrity in ID issuance and its use in voting processes, linking it to election integrity efforts.

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