(The Center Square) – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias says there is no need for most Illinoisans to wait in line for a REAL ID.
Starting Wednesday, the U.S. government will require a passport, REAL ID or other REAL ID-compliant identification to board a domestic flight or enter secure federal facilities.
Giannoulias said you can still get a REAL ID after May 7.
“So to see these lines is really frustrating, especially because so many people do not need it,” Giannoulias said.
The secretary added that, according to federal officials, people will still be able to fly.
“Homeland Security has let us know that even after May 7, there will be essentially a two-year enforcement period where they’re not gonna not let people onto an airplane,” Giannoulias said.
Giannoulias said people should check the Illinois Secretary of State website to see if they need REAL IDs before making appointments. He said people under 18 do not need REAL IDs.
Giannoulias pointed his finger at the federal government for long lines and confusion over REAL IDs.
“The amount of people who are coming because they are worried about being deported or not being American citizens, that fear is real. We see it in people’s faces,” Giannoulias said.
Chicago Republican Committeewoman Tamiko Holt said she did not understand what the confusion is about.
“Either you’re legally in America or you’re not. I’m confused as to why they’re standing in line at the Illinois Secretary of State as illegal immigrants anyway. Where did you get the [Social Security] card and other documents needed to obtain any kind of state identification. We as Americans have to obey the laws of this land or accept the consequences if we don’t, with the exception of extenuating circumstances,” Holt said in a statement to The Center Square.
Holt asked if illegal immigrants even tried to go through the process the right way before coming to the United States.
“And why are American citizens being subjected to waiting in these long lines when their documents for identification shows clearly they are legal citizens. Let’s work on that before having press conferences and the alleged confusion,” Holt added.
Cato Institute senior fellow Pat Eddington says the REAL ID program has cost state and federal taxpayers a lot of money.
“I’m sure it’s measurable in the tens and possibly even the hundreds of millions of dollars when you look at it from a national standpoint,” Eddington told The Center Square.
The U.S. government enacted the Federal ID Act in 2005.
Giannoulias said his office issued more than 185,000 REAL IDs in April, an increase of more than 40,000 over the previous month.
The secretary also announced that the office is extending its REAL ID Saturdays program and REAL ID Supercenter until the end of May to provide more options to get one.
Giannoulias reiterated that most people do not need a REAL ID by Wednesday.
Morgan Sweeney contributed to this story.
