Homeland Security chief says travelers with no Real ID can fly for now, but with likely extra steps

By REBECCA SANTANA, Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Travelers who aren’t Real ID compliant by the upcoming deadline this week will still be able to fly but should be prepared for extra scrutiny, the head of Homeland Security said on Tuesday, May 6.

Kristi Noem told a Congressional panel that 81% of travelers already have IDs that comply with the Real ID law requirements. Besides Real ID, that includes passports, U.S. Department of Defense IDs (including those issued to dependents), permanent resident and border crossing cards.

The requirement for a Real ID or other federally accepted ID was to kick in on Wednesday, May 7.

But for now, those who still lack an identification that complies with the Real ID law “may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step,” Noem said.

“But people will be allowed to fly,” she said. “We will make sure it’s as seamless as possible.”

Real ID is a federally compliant state-issued license or other identification card that Homeland Security says is a more secure form of identification. It was a recommendation by the 9/11 Commission and signed into law in 2005.

The commission recommended the government set security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and IDs. It was supposed to be rolled out in 2008 but implementation has been repeatedly delayed.

Besides needing a Real ID or other federally accepted ID to fly domestically, people will also need one at some point to access certain federal facilities.

In recent weeks, Noem has warned the American public about the upcoming deadline. In a television ad put out by Homeland Security, she said that these IDs were needed for air travel and for entering public buildings, adding: “These IDs keep our country safe.”

A Real ID-compliant driver’s license has a symbol; in California it is a golden bear with a star in the upper-right corner of the card.