Biden’s lenient border policies aid illegal border-crossers in acquiring REAL IDs
Opening the Door: How Biden’s Policies Undermine National Security
One of the Biden administration’s signature policies with regard to the ongoing invasion at the southern border has been to offer, often retroactively, “temporary protected status” (TPS) to thousands of illegal border-crossers from crime-plagued countries such as Venezuela. One little-discussed consequence of that move has been the way it throws open the door for those foreign nationals to obtain “REAL IDs,” undermining the federal government’s claim that the new form of identification is meant to enhance security.
Expanding TPS and the Risk to National Security
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced in September the government would provide TPS to roughly 472,000 Venezuelans who arrived in the states as of July 31, some illegally.
- The Biden administration previously granted TPS to more than 242,000 Venezuelans during 2021 and 2022.
Overall, the Biden administration has expanded TPS to cover a total of nearly 700,000 foreign nationals from 16 countries including Yemen, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Somalia, Afghanistan, Burma, Cameroon, Nepal, Nicaragua, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Venezuela.
The Consequences for National Security
- While it’s unknown whether the man who allegedly murdered 22-year-old Laken Riley in Georgia had been granted temporary protected status, he had reportedly entered the country illegally in 2022, originally hailing from Venezuela — during the period in which the Biden administration was granting TPS to Venezuelan migrants.
But that risk doesn’t seem to concern the Biden administration. And by granting TPS to noncitizens, including illegal border-crossers, the Department of Homeland Security has enabled them to obtain REAL IDs.
REAL IDs and the Erosion of Security
- Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the federal government sold the REAL ID Act of 2005 as a means to protect air travel from possible terrorist threats by improving the verification of passengers.
Americans will be required starting in May 2025 to provide a REAL ID in order to board an aircraft. Yet thousands of illegal immigrants are being shipped nationwide via planes once they arrive in the U.S. despite having no photo identification.
And thanks to Biden, some of these illegal immigrants could be obtaining REAL IDs (you know, the things meant to make us safer).
The Impact on Election Security
- More than a dozen states already allow noncitizens, including illegal immigrants, to obtain a driver’s license.
- Meanwhile, federal DHS policy stipulates that any state can offer those with TPS a REAL ID.
But TPS includes a sizable number of people who broke the law by crossing the border illegally before the Biden administration offered them temporary protected status — and it has been widely abused.
Residents in Illinois expressed concern in September after the state permitted illegal immigrants to obtain drivers licenses. DMVs, which handle the rollout of identification documents including REAL IDs, have long experienced system breakdowns that permit noncitizens to register to vote.
California’s DMV wrongfully enrolled approximately 1,500 people, many of whom were noncitizens, to vote in 2018. Pennsylvania leftists have been working tirelessly to pass a bill so that illegal immigrants can get driver’s licenses while the state passed legislation implementing automatic voter registration at the DMV.
Jonathan Marks, Pennsylvania’s then-commissioner for the Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation, testified that the agency found 544 improper ballots were apparently cast between 2000 and 2017. The agency said the ballots were cast by noncitizen immigrants who claimed they mistakenly registered to vote.
What are the potential consequences of granting TPS to individuals from countries with high crime rates and security concerns?
Ravel and enhance national security. The Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards, requiring stricter documentation and verification processes. It aimed to prevent terrorists from easily obtaining fraudulent IDs and gaining access to sensitive areas, such as airports and government buildings.
However, the recent policy of granting TPS to illegal border-crossers undermines the purpose of the REAL ID Act. By providing these individuals with legitimate identification, the federal government is effectively opening the door for potential security threats. While not all TPS recipients may pose a risk, the lack of rigorous background checks and the potential for individuals with malicious intent to slip through the cracks is concerning.
Moreover, the expanding TPS policy encompasses foreign nationals from countries with high crime rates and security concerns, such as Venezuela. By granting TPS to individuals from these regions, the government runs the risk of inadvertently admitting criminals or individuals associated with criminal organizations into the country. This undermines national security and places additional burdens on local law enforcement agencies.
One particular example that underscores the potential consequences of this policy is the case of Laken Riley’s alleged murderer in Georgia. While it is unclear whether he had been granted TPS, he entered the country illegally from Venezuela during the same period when the Biden administration was granting TPS to Venezuelan migrants. This case highlights the need for a comprehensive and careful examination of individuals seeking TPS, especially when it comes to their potential threat to national security.
The erosion of security brought about by the expansion of TPS is further amplified by the ability of these individuals to obtain REAL IDs. REAL IDs were designed to enhance security by ensuring that individuals possessing them have gone through stringent vetting processes. By enabling noncitizens, including illegal border-crossers, to obtain REAL IDs, the Department of Homeland Security is compromising the integrity and effectiveness of this system.
The Biden administration’s policies of expanding TPS and granting REAL IDs to noncitizens without comprehensive vetting procedures raise concerns about national security. While providing opportunities and assistance to those in need is a noble goal, it should not come at the expense of compromising the safety and security of the American people. Striking a balance between humanitarian considerations and national security is crucial and requires careful evaluation and implementation of policies.
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