DHS says REAL ID, which DHS certifies, is too unreliable to confirm U.S. citizenship

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has acknowledged that the REAL ID, which it certifies, is unreliable in confirming U.S. citizenship, despite requiring proof of citizenship or lawful status for its issuance. This admission came in a court filing in response to a lawsuit filed by the Institute for Justice on behalf of a U.S. citizen who was detained during immigration raids despite possessing a REAL ID. The REAL ID Act, passed in 2005, was intended to create uniform standards for state IDs as a post-9/11 security measure, but it has faced widespread unpopularity and low compliance from states.