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Which states issue standard or REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants in 2025?
Executive summary
As of reporting around and after the May 7, 2025 REAL ID enforcement date, 19 states plus the District of Columbia (and Puerto Rico in some counts) issue driver’s licenses or special state IDs to people who lack lawful immigration status — but those credentials are generally non‑REAL ID (standard or specially marked) and cannot be used for federal purposes like boarding a domestic flight unless the holder also has an accepted federal ID such as a passport [1] [2] [3]. Federal DHS guidance and reporting make clear: REAL ID compliance requires proof of lawful immigration status, so undocumented immigrants are ineligible for REAL ID cards even where states provide driving credentials [4] [3].
1. Which states issue licenses to undocumented immigrants — the headline number
Multiple advocacy groups, reporting outlets and legal compendia agree that about 19 U.S. states, plus Washington, D.C. (and Puerto Rico in some tallies), have laws or programs that allow some undocumented residents to obtain driver’s licenses or state IDs; that count is the standard cite in 2024–2025 reporting [1] [2] [5]. The National Immigration Law Center and National Conference of State Legislatures have tracked these laws; news outlets cite the same 19‑state figure in 2024–2025 coverage [2] [5].
2. REAL ID vs. state “standard” or marked licenses — what’s different
REAL ID compliance requires documentation proving lawful presence; DHS and state guidance say REAL ID cards are available only to applicants who can show lawful immigration status [4] [3]. States that license undocumented residents typically issue noncompliant or specially marked “standard” licenses that are explicitly not acceptable for federal identification purposes [6] [4]. Several advocacy and legal groups note these noncompliant cards often carry a legend or different design to indicate they are not REAL ID–acceptable [4] [7].
3. Practical consequences after May 7, 2025 — travel and federal access
Beginning May 7, 2025, TSA and many federal facilities require REAL ID‑compliant identification to board commercial domestic flights or enter certain federal buildings unless another acceptable federal ID (for example, a passport) is shown [8] [9] [10]. Reporting stresses the practical result: undocumented residents with state noncompliant licenses generally cannot use those licenses for REAL‑ID‑restricted federal purposes and must rely on other documents if they have them [3] [9].
4. State‑level politics and enforcement variations
While a core group of states provide driving credentials regardless of immigration status, several states have passed laws or taken actions to limit recognition of out‑of‑state licenses issued to undocumented people (for example, Florida and Tennessee actions noted in 2025 reporting), and legislative pressure continued through 2025 [11] [12]. The Associated Press and other outlets report a patchwork: some states protect access, others seek to restrict recognition or penalize use, creating cross‑state uncertainty [11].
5. Who can get REAL ID among noncitizens — exceptions and caveats
Not all noncitizens are categorically excluded from REAL ID. DHS guidance and legal advisories note that noncitizens with lawful, documented immigration status (for example, lawful permanent residents, some with Deferred Action or temporary protected statuses that DHS considers lawful presence) can meet REAL ID documentation requirements; the exclusion is specific to those lacking lawful status [4] [13]. Sources emphasize that eligibility hinges on the paperwork presented to the state DMV [4] [13].
6. Risks, remedies and advice reported to affected communities
Immigrant‑facing legal groups and media advised communities that if a person cannot obtain a REAL ID, they may still travel with an unexpired foreign passport or other TSA‑accepted federal ID; they also warned about heightened practical barriers for undocumented people in accessing federal facilities and air travel after enforcement [10] [9] [14]. Advocacy organizations and legal aid groups have produced guides on alternatives and on state‑by‑state rules [10] [15].
7. Limitations in available reporting and what’s not in the record
Available sources consistently give the 19‑state plus D.C. figure but do not provide a single, definitive, contemporaneous list of those states inside these search results; readers seeking a state‑by‑state roster should consult the NILC, NCSL, or the state DMV pages directly [1] [16] [17]. Available sources do not mention a current federal policy that allows undocumented immigrants to obtain REAL ID‑compliant driver’s licenses [4] [3].
Bottom line: about 19 states and D.C. make some form of driving credential available to undocumented residents, but federal REAL ID rules require lawful status for a REAL ID‑compliant card — so those state‑issued licenses are generally non‑REAL ID and cannot be used for federal purposes like domestic air travel unless the person has another accepted federal ID [1] [4] [3].