Actual ID enforcement delayed but once more — this time to 2025

The Division of Homeland Safety said Monday it’s once more pushing again the enforcement of Actual ID necessities for state driver’s licenses and ID playing cards. The newest delay strikes states’ compliance deadline to Could seventh, 2025.

Handed by Congress in 2005 as a response to the Sept. eleventh, 2001 terrorist assaults, the Actual ID Act requires stricter documentation for boarding flights and getting into federal or nuclear services. For instance, to get a Actual ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID card, you want to present paperwork on your identify, date of delivery, tackle, Social Safety card and delivery certificates.

The DHS says the necessities enhance state IDs’ reliability and accuracy. Officers can shortly see whether or not a card is Actual ID-compliant by searching for the gold star within the higher right-hand nook.

When the invoice handed, states initially had a 2008 compliance deadline. However after some states and US territories refused to play ball, the cutoff confronted delay after delay. Regardless of the ever-shifting deadlines, 13 states rolled out assist in 2012. The listing grew within the following years as reluctant states confronted the prospect of getting their residents blocked from flights. However the COVID-19 pandemic led to much more kicking of the can, and as we speak’s cutoff level pushes it again from Could 2023 to Could 2025.

“DHS continues to work intently with US states, the District of Columbia, and the US territories to satisfy Actual ID necessities,” stated Secretary of Homeland Safety Alejandro N. Mayorkas in a information launch as we speak. “This extension will give states wanted time to make sure their residents can receive a Actual ID-compliant license or identification card. DHS will even use this time to implement improvements to make the method extra environment friendly and accessible. We are going to proceed to make sure that the American public can journey safely.”