The Real ID Act 2025 is creating serious challenges for many Americans, especially those born under circumstances where proper documentation was never issued. Jessie Lovette, a 76-year-old woman born in rural Georgia during the segregation era, has been left feeling invisible due to this new federal requirement.
Despite living in Florida for decades and having a Social Security number with a long record of identification, Jessie can no longer renew her expired state ID because she was never given an official birth certificate. Her birth, assisted by a midwife in the 1940s, was never formally recorded—a common issue for many African Americans born in the South during Jim Crow.
Real ID Act 2025 Shuts Out Elders Without Records
Jessie shared with CBS News Miami that the shift has left her feeling like a “nobody.” “I was too ashamed to even tell my kids,” she said. In the past, obtaining an ID was simpler. “They didn’t ask for documents. You’d just say where and when you were born,” she recalled. But with the Real ID Act 2025, those days are gone.
Her son Derrick explained their five-year effort to obtain a delayed birth certificate from Georgia. Even after supplying numerous forms of evidence—like a marriage license listing Georgia as her birthplace—the request was denied. Her daughter, Pamala Lloyd, added that without a valid ID, basic healthcare visits have become a nightmare. “They scan her ID and say, ‘Sorry, Ms. Lovette, we can’t see you.’”
Real ID Act 2025 Disproportionately Affects Black Women
The family’s legal fight continues with a new hearing scheduled in June. In the meantime, Jessie remains without a valid ID—unable to access essential services or safely travel.
After CBS News Miami highlighted her case, some federal agencies responded, promising to review her situation. But for now, Lovette continues to face barriers, a reality that’s becoming common among older Americans, especially Black women born under segregation who lack formal birth records.
Jessie’s story is not unique. Just last month, another woman from South Florida, Janette Gantt Palmer, reported similar issues due to missing birth documents from South Carolina. As the Real ID Act 2025 nears full enforcement, many more could find themselves excluded—through no fault of their own.
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Source: www.inquisitr.com
