Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias held a press conference on May 7, 2025, to criticize U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s visit to Springfield on the day that REAL ID enforcement begins.
“For months, Secretary Noem has been calling the May 7 date a ‘deadline,’ implying that Americans must have a ‘REAL ID’ or they cannot board any U.S.-based flights without a valid passport, which has sent people scrambling to get one ahead of tomorrow,” Giannoulias said. “For the past several months, this has resulted in long lines, frustration and – in many cases – pure panic among residents.”
“Instead of flying across the country to perform campaign-style political stunts designed to traumatize people and promote herself, she should do her damn job!”
