White Sands Missile Range no longer accepting NM driver’s licenses

As of Monday , New Mexico driver’s licenses will no longer be accepted
to gain access to White Sands Missile Range.

New Mexico driver’s licenses are not in compliance with the Federal REAL ID Act, according to a news release from White Sands Missile Range.

The REAL ID Act of 2005 establishes minimum standards for the production and
issuance of state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards. The act prohibits federal agencies from accepting for official use driver’s licenses and identity cards from states unless the Department of Homeland Security determines that the state meets set standards.

The following forms of identification will be allowed, but must be up to date:

Department of Defense-issued common access card

Military identification card for active duty, retired,reserve and National Guard members or dependents

Federal identification cards

Transportation worker identification card

U.S. passport or U.S. passport card

Permanent resident card/alien registration receipt card (Form I-551)

Foreign passport with a temporary (I-551) stamp
or temporary (I-551) printed notation on a machine readable immigrant visa

Employment authorization document that contains a photograph (Form I-766)

Current/valid driver’s license (must contain photo, name, date of birth, gender,
height, eye color and address)from a Real ID Actcompliant state

ID card issued byfederal,state or local government agency (must
contain photo, name,date of birth, gender, height, eye color and address)

U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Marine legacy cards or U.S. Coast Guard New Merchant Marine credential

Native American tribal document

Along with existing procedures to gain access to WSMR, a background check is required for all visitors.

As of Dec. 31st, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Washington state and American Samoa are not complaint and do not have extensions for implementation of the REAL ID Act.