In 2005, when the catastrophic events of 9-11 were still fresh in the minds of American citizens, Congress passed the “Real ID Act”. It stipulated that by 2008, all passengers passing through security checkpoints at our nations airports, and  military or nuclear facilities, would have an approved form of identification to prove lawful status in this country. That was defined as:

EVIDENCE OF LAWFUL STATUS 

A State shall require, before issuing a driver’s license or identification card to a person, valid documentary evidence that the person:

(i) Is a ciitizen or national of the United States;

(ii) is an alien lawfully admitted for permanent or temporary residence in the United States;

(iii) has conditional permanent resident status in the United States;

(iv) has an approved application for asylum in the United States or has entered into the United States in refugee status;

(v) has a valid, unexpired nonimmigrant visa or nonimmigrant visa status for entry into the United States;

(vi) has a pending application for asylum in the United States;

(vii) has a pending or approved application for temporary protected status in the United States;

(viii) has approved deferred action status;

 or:

(ix) has a pending application for adjustment of status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States or conditional permanent resident status in the United States.

Subsequently, numerous extensions to the act were granted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), particularly during the Obama administration. The latest extension runs through October 1, 2020.

Meanwhile, 15 states have passed laws allowing illegal aliens to obtain driver’s licenses. The latest to do so is New Jersey, following the lead of their neighbor across the Hudson river.  All of those states, with the exception of New Jersey, are supposedly currently in compliance with the Real ID Act. That appears to indicate that illegal aliens, in procession of a driver’s license from the state, are allowed to bypass the Real ID regulations and gain access to the listed restricted areas.  The vast majority of those states are controled by Democrats.

In light of the recent terrorist event in Pensacola, and the real possibility of terrorist attacks on airliners in the U.S., this policy seems incomprehensible. Meanwhile, the Congress has been engaged in spending millions of taxpayer dollars on hearings about an alleged attempt by President Trump to get political dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden, one of 20 plus possible candidates for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2020.

Makes you wonder who really should be up for impeachment.