New Mexico Drivers Licenses May Not Work As ID

New Mexico drivers licenses may not be acceptable identification come January.

Unless Congress takes some action before January 15th, drivers licenses in New Mexico would not be a valid ID if the state keeps giving them to illegal immigrants.  That would mean NM residents would need a passport to board a plane.  The Real ID Act was enacted in  2005 to verify the identification of every drivers license applicant.  It forces states to required that documents such as a birth certificate or passport that are submitted to get the drivers license are legit and that the applicant is in the U.S. legally.  New Mexico still lets illegal immigrants get drivers licenses, and the Real ID Act would kill that.  A newly created database will link all licensing info that has to be checked before the state can issue a new card.  If New Mexico doesn't comply with the law, residents drivers licenses won't be accepted as proof of ID at airports, federal buildings or when applying for any kind of federal benefits.  Passports are not cheap, and I'm wondering who is going to pay for them if New Mexico doesn't go along with the act.   If you are a New Mexico resident I'd like to hear your thoughts on this.