Would Real ID cause discrimination against U.S. Citizens?
Yes. REAL ID would require DMV employees to decide whether someone is a citizen or foreigner before issuing a driver’s license – forcing them to distinguish among citizens, permanent resident immigrants – often by making difficult and subtle judgments about complex immigration issues. That would inevitably cause discrimination against U.S. citizens who may “look” or “sound” “foreign” to a DMV bureaucrat. Such citizens would likely be interrogated more, have their documents scrutinized with suspicion, be treated as suspect, and be denied a license or targeted for further questioning or investigation. Those who did not satisfy the DMV employee might be denied a license altogether or be told that they are eligible only for a license that is not compliant with Real ID.
