'we're Simply Not Ready': Real Id Rollout Could Trigger National Headache, State Lawmaker Warns

A Kentucky lawmaker is urging nan national authorities to hold its forthcoming REAL ID deadline arsenic his authorities and others look a whirlwind of logistical issues.

"Kentucky wants to comply pinch REAL ID, but we're simply not ready. And we're not alone. At slightest 17 different states are still beneath 50% compliance, and 30 states are beneath 70% compliance," Republican Kentucky authorities Sen. Jimmy Higdon told Fox News Digital.

"If we flip nan move now, millions of Americans could beryllium denied entree to aerial recreation and national buildings. We request much time, and that's a reasonable request."

REAL ID was first created by rule successful 2005, but nan national authorities has delayed its implementation aggregate times – astir precocious successful 2022. But nan Trump administration has made clear that nan existent May 7 deadline is final.

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An image of a REAL ID illustration paper imposed complete lines astatine an airport. (Reuters/DC DMV)

Higdon and his colleagues successful nan Kentucky authorities Senate wrote to nan Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Secretary Kristi Noem past week seeking an extension. 

"I tin show you for a fact, I'm proceeding from constituents and my chap legislators, ‘Hey, this is simply a problem. This is simply a existent problem,’" he told Fox News Digital.

The Kentucky Republican called connected different authorities officials to scope retired to Noem and inquire for a hold arsenic well.

"We’re not unsocial present successful Kentucky. We're not nan lone ranger erstwhile it comes to non-compliance. We're astatine 40%," he said. "We’re simply not ready."

Indeed, a caller CBS News study recovered that Pennsylvania, Maine and Washington were among nan states that came successful nether 40% compliance. New Jersey’s compliance complaint was conscionable 17% arsenic of April 18, according to nan study.

The Trump management has based on that yet acting connected REAL ID helps nan White House’s crackdown connected forbidden immigrants, millions of whom person entered nan state since President Donald Trump was past successful office.

Higdon is urging different states to petition Secretary Kristi Noem, pictured here, for a delay. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

But Higdon said location was disorder complete what REAL ID is. He described agelong lines and a dearth of appointments arsenic Kentuckians person scrambled to meet nan deadline.

"It’s almost a panic of sorts trying to get nan REAL ID, a batch of group don't understand it," Higdon said. "The media's done a bully occupation of letting group cognize nan deadline's approaching. But a batch deliberation they request a existent ID, and they don't if there's different intends of existent ID – a passport, passport card, subject ID – each those things work."

"And if you don't scheme to travel, if you're not going to get connected a commercialized hose formation aliases sojourn a subject guidelines aliases national courthouse, you really don't request that REAL ID-compliant ID" 

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Starting May 7, a REAL ID will beryllium needed for home hose recreation – alternatively than a normal state-issued licence – arsenic good arsenic successful areas wherever national recognition is required, but having a REAL ID itself is not required.

Higdon suggested giving Americans different twelvemonth to drawback up, noting that group had grown utilized to nan authorities delaying nan deadline complete nan past 2 decades.

"I deliberation we've trained group to disregard that deadline," he said. "So, if we're going guardant successful a twelvemonth to get nan connection out, ‘Hey, this is it. We're either going to do distant pinch REAL ID aliases we're gonna make it mandatory this clip adjacent year,’ I deliberation that would decidedly help."

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But it appears nan Trump management is not budging.

In consequence to Kentucky legislators’ request, nan Transportation Security Administration (TSA) told Fox News Digital, "Beginning connected May 7, passengers will request a REAL ID aliases different acceptable shape of recognition to fly, for illustration a passport aliases subject ID. TSA is committed to enforcing nan law, arsenic directed by Congress."

"Non-compliant passengers whitethorn expect hold times aliases further measures astatine airports. If you are an forbidden alien without a REAL ID, nan only measurement you will beryllium permitted to alert is if you are self-deporting," TSA said.