The Department of Homeland Security explains that the Real ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, enacted the 9/11 Commission's recommendation that the federal government "set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses." The measure established minimum security standards for license issuance and production and prohibits certain federal agencies from accepting, for certain purposes, driver's licenses and identification cards from states not meeting the Act's minimum standards.
Twila Brase, president and co-founder of Citizens' Council for Health Freedom (CCHF), says the American public needs to be thinking about this push to Real ID, "and they need to do everything possible to not get the Real ID."
She explains that the Real ID is essentially a federal identification card that is under the federal government's control.
"Right now, a lot of people around the country still have their standard IDs, and many people in many states can keep their standard IDs, and they should do so," she adds.
A Real ID has or will have a star in the upper right corner of the card. The California DMV, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, and the Department of Homeland Security websites all feature such images.
"This is going to move the entire country to one number issued by the government for every person. Control of the identification and control of driving privileges would all be under the federal government, as well as anything else that they decided that they would require you to use this ID for," Brase details.
She believes the government is going to try to push everyone into this national ID, but her organization is trying to keep it at bay "because that does not align with freedom in this country."
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to AFN's email seeking comment.
