Homeland Security: Decision on Real ID for airport travel coming by end of year

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responded Thursday to multiple requests by KOB for further clarification on theimpending Real ID Act deadline in New Mexico.

DHS did not say much that was still unknown, but did tell KOB the department “is in the process of scheduling plans for REAL ID enforcement at airports” and will make that decision by the end of 2015. Then, DHS says it will give “at least 120 days” notice before changes are made affecting travel.

This means, as was reported Wednesday, that New Mexicans should have no trouble flying with state-issued licenses until at least April 2016.

Read the full DHS response here.

“The REAL ID Act places the responsibility for action on the state to provide state-issued identification that meets the Act’s security standards,” the DHS spokesperson said.

Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-NM, also issued a statement regarding the back-and-forth within the state government over New Mexico’s Real ID compliance and a bipartisan bill that passed the state Senatethat would have brought the state into compliance.

“I have called on the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies to improve and expand their public outreach. However, the ultimate solution for this problem must come at the state level,” Sen. Heinrich said. “The state Senate passed a bipartisan bill last year that is both Real ID compliant and ensures all New Mexico drivers can continue to drive legally and safely. This pragmatic, bipartisan solution is the clear path forward.”

New Mexico Senate Democrats also Thursday issued further clarification of Real ID standards at different federal and military buildings in the state and the specific forms people visiting those buildings will have to have. Click here for that information.

Senate Democrats also established a phone line, (505) 986-4727, for anyone with further questions.

Gov. Susana Martinez has said she will not call a special session to resolve the matter. Her spokesman, Michael Lonergan, continued to spar with Democrats over the issue Wednesday, when he told KOB, in part, the governor is following “official guidance from the federal government on this issue,” and said she “has been working to resolve this problem year after year.”

Lonergan also said in that statement, “[i]f the Democrats want to gamble on this issue, so be it. And while they are at it, they will continue ignoring a strong majority of New Mexicans who want to end the dangerous practice of granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.”

Lonergan pointed to a 10-month-old Albuquerque Journal poll in which 56 percent of Democrats, 69 percent of Independents and 62 percent of Hispanics said they were opposed to giving driver’s licenses to undocumented citizens – a total of 70 percent.

402 people were polled on the issue, which had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.

This story was originally published at KOB.com