Latest news with #RealID
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘Corrupt' Tallahassee ICE raid hits close to home, drums up community protest
Luis Arreguin of Tallahassee sits among shouting protesters in front of the Florida Capitol on May 30, 2025. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) Vacated construction sites, rapid protest organizing, and confusion — the immigration raid in Tallahassee this week hit close to home for many Panhandle residents. Some protesters in front of the Florida Capitol Friday evening had politics on their mind, while others told the Phoenix they were there because others, who had been detained or are scared to leave their homes, couldn't be. ICE raids FSU College Town construction site, buses away workers The protest drew hundreds of people, a day after Immigration and Customs Enforcement and state police raided a construction site in Tallahassee and detained many of the workers. 'There's a lot of people who can't be out here right now. A lot of them are scared to leave their house, so I gotta do it for them,' Luis Arreguin said. Arreguin moved to Tallahassee 10 years ago from Mayo, Florida, where people had more respect for laborers, he said. 'Blindsided, corrupt,' Arreguin said of the raid. 'They're not doing it for right reasons but, whatever, it is what it is. All we can do is do this right here, what we're doing. There's a god up there, he sees it all, he knows what happened yesterday.' Wearing a white button-up shirt, Arreguin sat quietly on a bollard in front of the Capitol, holding a sign reading, 'IMMIGRANTS ARE WELCOME HERE,' while others chanted, encouraged honking from drivers-by, and cheered for speakers. 'We're not bad people,' Arreguin said, referring to 'Mexicans, Hispanics, immigrants.' 'This nation was built on immigrants. So, I don't know what the hell happened in the last 10-20 years that we forgot,' Arreguin said. 'Some of the greatest inventions that's come out of this country have come from immigrants. It's just the passing of the torch, man, you just gotta wait it out.' According to ICE, '100+ illegal aliens' were arrested during the 'targeted enforcement operation Thursday.' The agency said people arrested were from Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, and Honduras 'to name a few.' The operation was directed by ICE Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee and assisted by Florida Highway Patrol, the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service, and Drug Enforcement Administration. Gov. Ron DeSantis, who called a special legislative session earlier this year to create laws cracking down on illegal immigration, characterized the raid as a 'Major bust in Tallahassee!' Ivette Martinez, a daughter of immigrants, traveled from Bainbridge, Georgia, to join the protest. 'It's inhumane,' said Martinez, whose husband works five minutes away from the construction site. 'It could've been my husband.' 'My question is, we present a birth certificate, Social Security, a Real ID that we have, and they still be saying it's fake,' Martinez said, concerned about cases such as one the Phoenix reported on in which a U.S. citizen was detained under the new immigration laws after showing his ID. 'So what, me as a USA citizen, do I have to prove in order to prove that I am a USA citizen? If they don't take my word, they don't take my real ID, Social Security, or birth certificate, what else? Am I just supposed to let them detain me or fight back?' After entering the construction site near the Florida State University campus, federal and state officials asked workers for identification and separated them into two categories, witnesses told the Phoenix. According to ICE, one worker during Thursday's raid was charged with four counts of assault on law enforcement officers and another attempted to pull a weapon on officers. Some were free to go; others were handcuffed and led onto white buses with metal-plated windows to be transported away from the worksite, escorted by the Highway Patrol. Officials, many masked, on the scene declined to provide information about the operation. Construction workers who'd been allowed to leave told the Phoenix that law enforcement officers had surrounded the site on West Gaines Street in FSU-adjacent College Town before the raid began at about 9 a.m. Kat Spiegel drove an hour and half from Jennings, Florida, with politics on her mind. 'I'm here because Trump is dismantling our entire democracy. He's trampling over the Constitution,' Spiegel told the Phoenix. 'ICE is out of control and they're running around, they're not identifying themselves, we have no idea who they are, they're masked, it's disgusting, he needs to go.' DeSantis posted to social media Friday that federal officials 'are pursuing the subcontractor responsible for hiring the illegal alien workers…' 'These types of enforcement actions aim to eliminate illegal employment, holding employers accountable and protecting employment opportunities for America's lawful workforce,' said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno in a news release. 'HSI Tallahassee, working alongside our state, local, and federal partners, will continue protecting public safety by enforcing the immigration laws of our nation.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Tony Alas, who works in construction, was at the protest with his family, holding a sign covered in stars and hearts that read, 'Immigrants Make America Great.' 'They say we come here to steal. We're not stealing anything. We're just doing the job that nobody else wants to do,' Alas told the Phoenix. 'They say, 'Come here, do it the right way.' The immigration system is broken and they need to fix it,' Alas said. 'Because sometimes it's people with no papers and it's not about money, it's about your kin. Some of my friends, they had to go back. When you have a wife and kids, you don't want to go back to your country and wait like, like, what? Three or four years, 10 years to get your papers straight? So you take the risk to stay with no papers.' Tony Alas' 19-year-old daughter Wendy, joined him. 'Me and my siblings, this country is all we've ever known. This country is where we grew up, we know everything here,' Wendy Alas said. 'It's so heartbreaking, and I don't know what I would do in a situation where my family or any of my other families like my aunts, my uncles, were sent back and I wouldn't be able to see them again,' Wendy Alas said. As the crowd formed and speakers aired concerns, protesters chanted, 'One, two, three, four, immigrants are worth fighting for,' and, 'Five, six, seven, eight, no more ICE in our state.' 'Say it once, say it twice, we will not put up with ICE,' they chanted, accompanied by drums and megaphones. Groups involved in the protest included Tallahassee Immigrant Rights Alliance, Leon County Democratic Environmental Caucus, Young Democratic Socialists of America, Students for a Democratic Society, Voices United Gadsden, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and Food Not Bombs Protesters held up signs reading things like, 'Abolish ICE,' 'Due process for all,' 'Let people work,' 'No 287(g),' and 'Melt ICE.' 'When our communities are under attack, we stand up and fight back. Politicians won't help us, the people in power don't want to help us, so we have to show them that we won't stand for it and the people will rise up,' Joelle Nunez, an organizer with Tallahassee Immigrant Rights Alliance, said through a loudspeaker. 'If they're focused on gang members and drug dealers, why are they focusing on arresting people that are simply trying to earn a living for their family?' Nunez told protesters. Nunez, an FSU senior in biology, said she would ask politicians to 'stop facilitating these immigration raids.' 'Florida, of all the states in the whole United States, has the most 287(g) agreements; we have a Immigration Enforcement Council now and, all in all, we're not only taking Trump's immigration policies in hand, but actually like stepping them up on the local level, and I think that's not right. What we need to be seeing is a sort of, some type of opposition to the immigration policies,' Nunez told the Phoenix. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Urgent need for improvements' discussed at NCDMV press conference with Gov. Josh Stein
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Website upgrades, better pay, new positions and more efficient processes were some of the promises made by Gov. Stein and NCDMV Commissioner Paul Tine Friday morning as they addressed the widespread issues being felt by customers. They joined Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins at the agency's East Raleigh office to highlight the 'urgent need for improvements' amid statewide challenges and what the future looks like. The press conference began with Sec. Hopkins inviting a DMV customer named Jocelyn to share her personal experience getting her daughter her driver's license. After driving over an hour to make it to the DMV office, she said she pleaded with staff after standing in line outside so long that her feet swelled. She was not only advocating to get them a seat, but to also come in and out of the rain to be helped before they closed. They were the last people served that day, Jocelyn said. As the NCDMV's new leader, Commissioner Tine said there is 'no shortage of opportunities to improve in the department.' As part of a 'Team DMV' plan, Tine said he visited many offices from the mountains to the coast to see where improvements are most needed to make the offices function better for North Carolinians. In that time, he said he observed issued from systems and processes to the physical facilities. At the core, however, he said a great need is making sure staff have what they need from compensation to resources. 'I want us to become a premiere customer service organization and to do that we need to empower our frontline staff,' he added. With a long way to go and many changes yet to be made, Tine said this is just the tip of the iceberg. The future, he said will focus on these four pillars: service, efficiency, agility and accountability. Gov. Stein said stories like Jocelyn's should be unique, but are not. Her story resembles thousands of others, he said. In addition to prioritizing raising pay for the state's DMV examiners, Gov. Stein said efforts are underway to simplify the agency's website and to ramp up efficiency as soon as this summer by creating 85 new positions. See which NCDMV offices are starting Saturday summer hours this weekend 'The DMV is not political. It's about service — service to the people of North Carolina,' the governor said. CBS 17 asked what tangible changes customers can see in these next few days and weeks. Commissioner Tine said the first round of changes can already be seen on the DMV website and encourages people to take a look. Off the top, he pointed to their homepage which directs people to a few questions which can help people determine if that need a Real ID right now. It also displays the message that REAL ID is 'completely optional.' As they work to address a lot of issues head-on, all at once, the commissioner said if people do not have an urgent need for something today, to not come to an office right now. Also coming soon to DMV offices will be changes that target the way appointments are processed and the efficiency of training individuals conducting road tests. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Planning to fly without a Real ID in Wisconsin? Here's what to bring to the airport
After years of postponements, the deadline to get a Real ID in Wisconsin has come and gone. If you still haven't gotten yours, you'll need another approved form of ID to fly domestically, or you may have to complete additional security screenings at the airport. Regular driver's licenses are no longer valid forms of ID to fly domestically or visit federal buildings following the May 7, 2025 Real ID deadline. Here's what to expect and how to prepare if you're flying without a Real ID. If you don't have a Real ID, you can still fly domestically and visit certain federal facilities if you have another form of ID approved by the Transportation Security Administration. If you don't have another TSA-approved form of ID, you may be asked to complete "an identity verification process" at the airport, according to the TSA. TSA officers will collect information including your name and current address, and if they can confirm your identity, you will be allowed to enter the security checkpoint. There, you may face additional screening. If you do not cooperate with the verification process or if officers cannot verify your identity, then you will not be allowed into the security checkpoint. Other TSA-approved alternatives include: U.S. passport or U.S. passport card State-issued enhanced driver's license DHS trusted traveler cards (GlobalEntry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST) U.S. Department of Defense ID (including dependents' IDs) Permanent resident card Border crossing card Acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized tribal nation HSPD-12 PIV card Foreign government-issued passport Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card Transportation worker identification credential (TWIC) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766) U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) The TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling domestically. A Real ID is a more secure version of your driver's license, marked by a star in the upper right corner for a Wisconsin ID. The switch is part of the Real ID act, passed by Congress in 2005, which required the federal government to create standards for identification, such as driver's licenses, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Under the law, ID cards have to meet certain standards for purposes like flying domestically or visiting federal buildings and military bases. To obtain a Real ID in Wisconsin, you'll need to go to your local DMV. You can visit the DMV's website at to start filling the necessary forms. The price to get a Real ID in Wisconsin is the same as getting or renewing a regular driver's license — $34. A regular photo ID costs $28. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Here's how you can fly without a Real ID in Wisconsin
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
North Carolina DMV adds walk-in opportunities at some locations
If you still need to get a Real ID, the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles is expanding its walk-in hours at some locations. The DMV is opening up for Saturday walk-in services at select locations across the state. Saturday walk-in locations: Charlotte: David Taylor Drive and Arrowood Road locations Huntersville: Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road location Monroe: Highway 74-West location Salisbury: S. Main Street location RELATED >> Real ID law goes into effect; what changes now? REAL ID requires those applying to confirm their identity with a Social Security number, documents that list their address, and other documents such as a birth certificate or passport. (VIDEO: DMV may soon let private instructors give road tests)
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Maine lawmakers reject bill to stop issuing Real ID cards
May 27—AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers have rejected a proposal that would have required the state to stop issuing driver's licenses and identification cards known as Real ID that meet strict new federal security standards. The Senate voted without a roll call and without any discussion Tuesday to reject the bill. It was rejected 109-34 in the House of Representatives last week. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Auburn, would have repealed the Maine law that allows the secretary of state to issue state IDs that comply with the federal law known as Real ID, which critics say compromises privacy. It comes as Transportation Safety Administration agents started enforcing the requirements this month by asking all commercial air travelers age 18 and up to show a Real ID or alternative federal identification earlier this month. The rules have been in the works for 20 years as a way to improve security and were approved in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. They involve a higher level of verification than standard driver's licenses or nondriver identification cards. Travelers can use passports as an alternative to the new driver's license. At a public hearing last month, Libby and supporters of her bill, LD 160, said the Real ID law represents government overreach and raises concerns about data collection and misuse by the federal government as well as potential breaches. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows testified against the bill, saying it would make Maine the only state unable to provide its residents with a federally compliant credential, a move that would force residents who want a Real ID to have to apply directly to the federal government. Standards for a Real ID are consistent across the 50 states and involve a higher level of verification than standard driver's licenses or IDs. To receive a Real ID, an individual must bring proof of identification and citizenship/lawful status, such as a certified birth certificate, two forms proving residency and a Social Security number. Proof of any legal name changes must also be provided, if applicable. State officials asked the Trump administration to delay enforcement of Real ID requirements this year. While that request was not granted, federal authorities said they planned to phase in the requirement and would initially give people warnings and possibly subject them to additional security screening if they did not provide compliant identification. Copy the Story Link
