The message to New Mexicans planning a trip that requires air
travel is "Don't panic. Your driver's license will (still) get
you on a plane or into a federal building after Jan. 15."  Even
if the Department of Homeland Security doesn't extend the
looming deadline for the enactment of the Real ID Act, New
Mexicans with a valid state-issued driver's license will be able
to use it to travel by air for at least another two years.
Karen Ward, Carlsbad Post Office supervisor who handles passport
applications, said she is seeing an increase in passport
applications, partly due to holiday travel, but mostly due to
people having a fear their driver's license won't be accepted at
the airport in January.  The federal Real ID Act was signed into
law in 2005, requiring states to have enhanced driver's licenses
and state IDs to boost security at airports. But New Mexico is
one of two dozen states that do not meet the requirements of the
Real ID Act. In New Mexico's case, driver's licenses are issued
to illegal immigrants,