The Trump administration's decision to implement the long-awaited REAL ID laws, aimed at curbing illegal immigration, has sparked a backlash among conservatives.
"Someone has lied to you, or you're engaged in wishful thinking," warned Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., in a recent post, debunking the notion that REAL ID is about election integrity. His comments came in response to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem's video announcement of the May 7 REAL ID deadline.
Former vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin also expressed her skepticism, questioning the necessity of the new ID requirements. "Evidently, existing ID requirements for American citizens just arent adequate now, so Big Brother is forcing us through more hoops for the right to travel within our own country," Palin wrote in a lengthy post.
She further questioned the urgency of implementing the "burdensome REAL ID requirement" now, after previous administrations had delayed it.
Passed in 2005, the REAL ID Act has remained unimplemented for two decades. It mandates that all U.S. travelers must be REAL ID compliant when boarding domestic flights. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently announced that the REAL ID would come into effect on May 7, rendering other state-issued ID cards invalid for air travel.
According to TSA senior official Adam Stahl, the REAL ID "bolsters safety by making fraudulent IDs harder to forge, thwarting criminals and terrorists." However, this argument has not convinced all conservatives.
In a post, Massie questioned the need for government permission to fly, arguing that REAL ID offers no benefit but poses a significant risk to freedom. He also criticized President Donald Trump for enforcing the "2005 George Bush-era Patriot Act overreach" that is REAL ID.
Echoing Massie's sentiments, former presidential candidate and ex-House Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, described REAL ID as "one of the greatest threats to Americans' civil liberties in decades." Kentucky state Rep. TJ Roberts, a Republican, concurred with Paul, calling for the repeal of REAL ID.
New Hampshire state Rep. Joe Alexander, a Republican, labeled REAL ID a "violation of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution," arguing that the Federal Government should not mandate ID for its citizens to travel between states.
Patrick Eddington, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, told Fox News Digital that REAL ID imposes unconstitutional burdens on air travelers. He cited the potential harm this law could cause, such as preventing someone from quickly flying home to be with a sick relative because they lack a REAL ID-compliant ID card.
Eddington also criticized the law for instituting a form of mass surveillance and verification that does not discriminate between those who have given reason for suspicion and those who haven't.
Despite the backlash, some conservatives, like Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., a Trump ally, have defended the implementation of REAL ID. Alford urged critics to stop complaining and get their REAL ID, noting that the Act was passed two decades ago.
The DHS has argued that implementing REAL ID now will help the Trump administration achieve its goals in cracking down on illegal immigration. A DHS memo obtained by Fox News Digital earlier this week argued that REAL ID "closes the gaping vulnerabilities Bidens policies created, preventing criminals and potential terrorists from exploiting our aviation system."
Trump administration allies have also pointed out that it is merely carrying out a directive by Congress thats long been stalled, and that the current White House had no role in its decision.
When Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and TSA for further comment, and to Massie's spokesman for an interview, there were no immediate responses.
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