Efforts growing to repeal the Real ID Act!

WASHINGTON - June 9, 2008 - The Real ID Act was passed by Congress on May 10, 2005. It was signed into law by President Bush with a mandatory compliance date by State Department of Motor Vehicles by May 11, 2008. The bill was sold as a means to protect Americans from terrorists and as a way to stop illegal immigration.

However, as many Americans may have noted, the compliance deadline has come and gone and no real push has been made to enforce the Real ID into reality.

That’s because, since passing, major opposition has grown out of concern by many Americans that the Real ID Act is more about creating a national identification card and less about immigration reform.

Many state governments say they simply can’t comply because not only are the costs too high, but in fact, much of the technology needed to implement it along with the required databases simply do not exist.

As a result, rebellion is growing in state legislatures and governors’ mansions against the Real ID Act, with growing legions calling for its repeal.

Seven states have now enacted binding legislation to refuse implementation of the Act, including Georgia, Maine, New Hampshire, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Washington.

Fourteen more states have passed resolutions registering their dissent and similar efforts have been introduced in 11 more. The New Hampshire legislature called the Real ID “contrary and repugnant” to state and federal constitutions.

In addition, forty three organizations representing privacy, consumer, civil rights, and civil liberty, have joined to launch a national campaign to call for repeal of the Real ID Act.

These groups see the Real ID as a significant threat to American’s privacy and civil liberties.