NEW REAL ID LAW FOR AIR TRAVEL IN THE UNITED STATES
Real ID is now required for air travel & federal buildings. Look for a star or 'enhanced' on your ID.
On May 7, a new program went into effect requiring state driver's licenses or ID cards to meet Real ID requirements.
This program has been in the works for several years, nearly two decades after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Under this law, in order to use a driver's license or ID card to travel by air or enter federal buildings, you need it to say or guarantee a Real ID standard, which is indicated by a special seal. In the state of Michigan, it is a star or the word “enhanced.” The enactment of this law was delayed several times, but as of May 7, it is now a reality.
What is Real ID? It is a type of identification in the form of a state driver's license or ID card that complies with federal regulations and, according to the Department of Homeland Security, provides greater security.
You should know that in some states, such as Illinois and others, where people with a driver's license or special ID card do not need proof of immigration status, they will not be accepted if they do not have this special seal and will have to request it. In Michigan, most cards have this seal, although some people who only have a work permit do not have the seal, so they cannot board a plane with only their license without the star seal.
WHAT OTHER DOCUMENTS CAN BE USED AS ALTERNATIVES
The government, through the TSA agency that regulates airports, may accept other forms of identification as alternatives to Real ID, although with some of them, the person will have to undergo a special screening in a separate line that may take much longer before they can board a plane.
Other alternative identification documents are:
U.S. passport or passport card. With these, you do not need special screening, but if your passport was issued by a foreign government, such as Mexico or any other country, you will most likely have to undergo this special screening. You can also use your legal permanent resident card, border crossing card, and employment authorization cards issued by the Citizenship and Immigration Services, which may also require special screening.
The obligation to have a real ID and its necessity varies according to your situation. It is not a requirement of the Immigration Department or ICE, but it is a requirement for boarding an airplane or entering federal buildings.
Another important thing that people should keep in mind is that if you are not in the country legally or with documents authorizing your presence in the United States and you go to an airport to travel within the United States, you are at risk of being asked for your documentation by an ICE or Border Patrol agent and being detained. Even if you have a valid passport from another country to board the plane, immigration agents can still detain you.
It is important to think carefully before traveling. Obviously, if you are traveling to another country, you will need a passport or other type of document proving that you can enter that country.
People traveling to Puerto Rico or other territories such as the Virgin Islands, including Hawaii or Alaska, should also understand that immigration will most likely ask them for documents proving that they are in the country legally. Your country's passport is not sufficient, and you may be detained. This is happening a lot with people traveling to Puerto Rico.
Also, people who have a work permit but have received a deportation notice or are in programs such as TPS that have expired may have problems because the work permit that allows them to board a plane does not always authorize them to remain in the United States.
