National ID May Have Killed Immigration Bill

News.com reports that the immigration reform bill bouncing around in the Senate for the last few weeks has finally been defeated. The site speculates that, perhaps, one of the reasons it was finally defeated was a measure intended to expand the use of Real ID cards. If passed, the bill would have effectively turned the Real ID system into a National ID card. "The American Civil Liberties Union, another longtime foe of Real ID, said the Real ID requirements were a 'poison pill that derailed this bill, and any future legislation should be written knowing the American people won't swallow it.' Another section of the immigration bill would have given $1.5 billion to state officials to pay for Real ID compliance. Even if the immigration bill is goes nowhere, however, the Real ID Act is still in effect. It says, starting on May 11, 2008, Americans will need a federally-approved ID card to travel on an airplane, open a bank account, collect Social Security payments or take advantage of nearly any government service." As we've discussed before, several states have rebelled against the implementation of Real ID.

Comments

Re:Did I miss a day of school?

[megaditto]

REAL ID bill just specifies which IDs can be used for federal identification purposes (board a plane, collect certain funds/post bail, enter certain federal buildings). If you don't need to fly, cross the border, or post bail, you don't have to get this kind of ID.

With this bill, everybody would be de facto required to have such an ID or be jailed and deported. With this bill, nobody could get a job, marry, or vote without a REAL ID. Again, to merely live here, you would have to get an ID of the approved list.