It's the punch line to a bad joke that started 20 years ago when Congress passed the REAL ID Act.

Only the government could spend 20 years creating a national ID that no one wanted and that apparently doesn’t even work as a national ID.

But that’s what the federal government has accomplished with the REAL ID, which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) now considers unreliable, even though getting one requires providing proof of citizenship or lawful status in the country.

In a December 11 court filing, Philip Lavoie, the acting assistant special agent in charge of DHS’ Mobile, Alabama, office, stated that, “REAL ID can be unreliable to confirm U.S. citizenship.”

  • WoodScientist@lemmy.world
    11·
    10 hours ago

    The ID contains more information than what is printed on the front. There’s a reason it’s digital.

    • spongebue@lemmy.world
      1·
      9 hours ago

      There’s a barcode, if that’s what you mean. Do we know that’s a part of it? I know it’s scannable in stores when you buy alcohol so I can’t imagine its contents are a secret