WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced Wednesday that his agency would issue “retooled” regulations requiring national driver’s license standards within a matter of weeks, and he warned states and businesses not to obstruct efforts to crack down on illegal immigration.
In a speech detailing the Department of Homeland Security’s accomplishments during 2007, Chertoff urged nationwide compliance with the Real ID Act, which was passed following the discovery that several of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists had used fake identification to board airplanes. He said he had no illusions about the reactions of states that have fought it on grounds of privacy and security.
He also criticized businesses for not embracing the department’s e-Verify system, which compares workers’ names and Social Security numbers against government databases to determine whether the information is valid.
