Manlius, NY — July 21, 2025 — As the federal government begins enforcing the long-delayed REAL ID Act, a New York attorney is sounding the alarm over widespread confusion and bureaucratic roadblocks that are preventing thousands from obtaining compliant identification—particularly married persons, transgender individuals, and anyone with mismatched paperwork.
Caterina Ranieri, principal attorney at Caterina Ranieri, P.C., says a growing number of inquiries from New York State residents unable to get REAL ID cards have exposed serious flaws in the law’s rollout and design.
“We’re seeing people turned away because their birth names don’t match the names on their current documents — often due to marriage, divorce, or minor clerical errors,” said Ranieri. “This law wasn’t built with real life in mind.”
The REAL ID Act, originally passed in 2005 and modified in 2018, is now being enforced nationwide after years of pandemic-related delays. As of May 7, 2025, travelers must present a REAL ID-compliant license to board domestic flights or enter federal facilities. But in New York, a unique complication is compounding the confusion: the existence of “enhanced” driver’s licenses, once compliant under the 2008 law, is now insufficient under new federal standards.
“People think they’re fine when they apply for an enhanced license or REAL ID, but they’re not. They show up at the DMV and get blindsided.”
Who’s most affected?
- Married persons who changed their last names after marriage or reverted them after divorce
- Transgender individuals whose gender markers or names differ from their original documents
- Those who have added a middle name to their identity that is not also recorded on their birth certificates
- Immigrants and natural-born citizens alike whose vital records contain misspellings, outdated names, or other inconsistencies
- Any New Yorker whose name does not match what is on their certificate/passport
Ranieri says the verification system behind REAL ID lacks flexibility — and common sense.
“We’ve helped clients fix errors on birth and marriage certificates, but it’s time-consuming and expensive,” she noted. “Worse, many don’t even realize they’re not in compliance until it’s too late—like the day before a flight.”
She is calling on lawmakers to introduce clearer guidance, streamlined correction procedures, and greater leeway for applicants with good-faith documentation inconsistencies.
“This isn’t just a red tape issue,” Ranieri said. “People are being denied the ability to travel because the system can’t account for the realities of how names and identities change.”
Ranieri’s firm assists individuals with correcting errors in birth, marriage, and death records to ensure compliance with federal ID requirements. She urges anyone unsure about their status to act before they book their next flight.
For more information, call (315) 409-1091 or visit www.caterinaranieripc.com.
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