Starting May 7, the Transportation Security Administration will begin enforcing the REAL ID rule at airports, checking that travelers are compliant with the updated ID in order to board a plane.
The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005, enacting the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government enhance security measures at airports and federal facilities.
The REAL ID is an enhanced identification card; it looks like a regular state ID card or driver’s license, but it’s marked with symbols that prove the legitimacy of the person’s identity. It can be obtained through the DMV but requires proof of identity, such as a birth certificate or passport, and a Social Security number.
One group that the new rule will deeply affect is undocumented Californians, who are ineligible for a REAL ID. While they can still obtain a California driver’s license, it won’t be a REAL ID, and it won’t allow them to board a plane.
Lorie Dankers, a TSA spokesperson, said that TSA is ready on May 7 to efficiently get travelers through TSA and enforce the REAL ID Act.
“We’re going to have an all-hands-on-deck approach on May 7 to ensure that those individuals who are not ready for REAL ID enforcement that we’re able to work with them in some way to clear them into the checkpoint,” Dankers said.
Alternatives to the REAL ID for domestic travelers are a U.S. passport, a permanent resident card, a military ID, or a foreign government-issued passport.
Misa Narrates, a master’s student in the specialized journalism program, explained her struggles in obtaining her REAL ID as a Virginia resident who lives in California.
“I can’t access the REAL ID. I was able to get my driver’s record sent over to my house in Virginia. Once it arrives, I will then need to take it to the California DMV,” Narrates said.
Nico Taylan, a sophomore human biology major, said that he still hasn’t updated his ID and was unaware of the implications.
“In all honesty, I was not aware up until recently, and I had just heard from a couple of friends that we will be needing the REAL ID starting next week, and I haven’t gotten on that, so this is a shocker to me,” Taylan said.
Fortunately for Taylan, he lives in California.
California DMV officials told Annenberg Media in a statement that, “As of April 14, 2025, more than 19 million Californians have a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card - this is 55% of all issued cards.”