West Virginia Delegates Anders and Kimble have introduced House Bill 5514, proposing that state residents be exempt from mandatory Real ID requirements. The bill asserts that the Real ID Act of 2005 imposes unnecessary costs and inconveniences on citizens, and potentially infringes upon the Tenth Amendment. If passed, the Division of Motor Vehicles would cease mandatory Real ID implementation and report any federal attempts to enforce it, though residents could still voluntarily obtain a Real ID. This measure comes as Real IDs become a federal requirement for domestic air travel and entry into federal facilities starting in May 2025.
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In Foley, Alabama, Leonardo Garcia Venegas, a US citizen, was arrested during a Trump administration-led immigration raid targeting undocumented workers. Despite presenting a Real ID, authorities deemed it fake, wrestled him to the ground, and handcuffed him. After verifying his citizenship with his social security number, he was released hours later. The Department of Homeland Security claims Garcia Venegas interfered with the arrest, while his family highlights the incident as an example of the increasingly aggressive immigration enforcement impacting even US citizens.
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U.S. citizen Leonardo Garcia Venegas was arrested during an Alabama immigration raid, despite presenting a REAL ID, which authorities dismissed as fraudulent. Video footage shows Garcia being forcefully detained, handcuffed, and held in a vehicle before his release upon providing his Social Security number. The Department of Homeland Security claims Garcia interfered with the arrest, a claim he denies, stating he was attempting to use his phone. This incident, along with the detention of his undocumented brother, highlights concerns about racial profiling and the chilling effect of such raids on the Hispanic community.
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John Q. Hosedrinker