Fed extends deadline for states’ Real ID compliance

Your New Mexico driver s license is okay to use at the airport and for other holiday travel at least until 2011

Today the Department of Homeland Security extended the deadline to 2011 after 46 states and U S territories notified the Government they would not be in compliance with the law requiring states to have tougher standards on their licenses

It was feared by this December 31st New Mexico along with numerous other states would not be in compliance with the federal Real ID act and driver s licenses would be denied at airports with passports needed to fly even within the U S

Current federal legislation seeks to replace Real ID with streamlined changes dubbed Pass ID But even if the new bill is adopted it still may require someone be legally in this country before they can get a driver s license

New Mexico currently permits illegal immigrants to get driver s licenses

The NM Department of Tax and Revenue responsible for issuing licenses in the state reports it s likely congress will now do away with Real ID