Press Releases

Following an announcement by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to extend the deadline for states and territories to become compliant with theREAL ID Act, Virgin Islands Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett released the following statement:
 
“We are pleased that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has granted additional time to states and territories to become compliant with the REAL ID Act. Our office has had several meetings and has been in contact with DHS to ensure the territory received additional time to come in compliance. This extension will allow Virgin Islanders, who use their locally issued driver’s license as their primary form of identification, the ability to continue using that form of identification to travel and access federal facilities in the country. The deadline for compliance with the REAL ID Act is Jan. 22, 2018. This gives states and territories not yet compliant, an additional two years to implement an ID plan.

The REAL ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the Federal Government set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses. The Act established minimum-security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits Federal agencies from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards. Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005.

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