REAL ID Deadline Approaches: What Haitian Immigrants in the U.S. Need to Know

This change means that any adult flying domestically in the United States will need a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or identification card, or else you won't be allowed to board your flight.

Regular state IDs without the enhanced security features won't be accepted anymore. This rule has been in the works since 2005, after the 9/11 Commission called for stricter identification standards, but it's been delayed several times--until now.

As Haitians living in the U.S., especially under TPS or parole, many of us are already dealing with uncertainty about our legal status. And now, with the deadline finally coming, and President Donald Trump calling for tougher immigration enforcement, it feels like the walls are closing in even more.

For those of us who have been here for years, working hard, raising families, and contributing to our communities, the REAL ID deadline is not just about flying--it's about access.

Some states allow people with TPS or parole status to get a REAL ID, but others don't. It depends on local laws and whether the state recognizes your legal presence under federal immigration rules.

This can create confusion and fear, especially many Haitians are already worried about being targeted or deported.

If you're a Haitian in the U.S. and you haven't yet checked whether your state ID is REAL ID-compliant, now is the time.

Look for a star at the top of your ID--that's the mark of a REAL ID. If you don't have one, you'll need to bring your immigration documents to the DMV to get one, which for some of us can feel risky in the current political climate.

Read more: Haiti Immigration News, Great Tips for the Haitian Diaspora, Immigration, Haitian Newsletter Articles

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