Across the US, people have been carrying their passports amid reports of ICE detaining citizens. Five people explain what living this reality is like

Across the US, people have been carrying their passports amid reports of citizens being detained. Five people explain what living this reality is like

  • Treczoks@lemmy.world
    443·
    1 day ago

    Oh, snowflakes. It is absolutely the norm to carry IDs with you in other countries, and nobody bats an eye.

    • ssfckdt@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      7·
      21 hours ago

      I think you misunderstand. It’s normal in US to carry IDs, usually driver licenses. But those are state-issued IDs. They are becoming unreliable when dealing with federal authorities, however, because they don’t prove citizenship. For example, my permanent resident wife has a state ID, she also has a social security card, and other documents, but she is not a US citizen, so her ID she carries does not verify her right to be here. (She has another card for that, which until recently she likewise did not carry regularly since for 99% of needs the state ID is sufficient.)

      A passport is one of the few federal IDs we have that also prove citizenship, and probably most Americans, or a very significant number of them, do not have one or did not have one until semi recently. It was about 12 years ago the US stopped accepting state ID to enter the US from Canada, which meant most people could cross that border without passport. Plenty of Americans have either never left the country or only traveled to Canada thus never needed a passport. (Kind of a big country.)

      So yes, it is new for them to have to carry passports, which aren’t nearly as convenient as the existing state IDs which fit in a wallet, as well as, kind of a pain in the ass to replace if lost or stolen – it can take months to get a replacement. (Ditto for PR cards; last time she renewed her it took 14 months(!).)

      As of a few years back you can now also get a “passport card” which is a federal ID (it is also a REAL ID, for you statesiders). I have both, and I do carry the card version with me.

      • Treczoks@lemmy.world
        21·
        12 hours ago

        Here, the federal level ID card is simply something to carry in your wallet, along with the driving licence. We have no state level IDs. The driving licence is not considered an ID document on its own.

        Having or carrying around a bulky passport is not necessary. You only need it for visiting countries outside the EU.

    • FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca
      41·
      22 hours ago

      I’m Canadian. I don’t drive but I have a government ID. I lost it once and didn’t get around to replacing it for like two years. I got along fine without it and was never stopped by police demanding I prove I’m a Canadian citizen. Couldn’t buy liquor though. There was no election during that time and it was before i started using weed. You need ID to drive, board a plane, buy certain products, and vote but you’re not expected or required to carry it everywhere you go.

      • Treczoks@lemmy.world
        2·
        12 hours ago

        You don’t need the ID that often here, either. You need it in conjunction with certain official acts or legal requirements, be it for openng a bank account or voting.

        I only had to show my ID to the police three times in my life. Two times as accompanying ID for the driving licence, and once when I accidentally drove my bike into a locked down high security area through a little known shortcut…

      • umbrellacloud@leminal.space
        13·
        10 hours ago

        You have provinces, not States. Is there a reason I am unaware of that you would have an ID for your province rather than just for Canada?

        … dude.

        …do you know what a State is, from an American context?

          • umbrellacloud@leminal.space
            13·
            9 hours ago

            OK. I will help you, by asking clarifying questions which will help you help yourself.

            Why would Americans be concerned that a federal ID is now more valid than a State ID?

            What does Statehood mean to Americans?

            What are the qualifications for a US citiczen to aquire a federal ID and how accessible is it for the average American to aquire one?

            • FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca
              2·
              7 hours ago

              I was responding to a comment that claimed people in other countries need to carry ID everywhere and it’s considered normal. I was saying that in Canada, no we do not need to carry ID everywhere to prove our citizenship. It is, in fact, bad and alarming that Americans are starting to need ID to prove their citizenship under threat of being kidnapped by federal agents. I don’t know how your questions are supposed to be relevant to that point

    • ranzispa@mander.xyz
      141·
      1 day ago

      I am from other country. The only ID I am required to carry with me is driving licence while driving. And in most cases it won’t be a problem if you do not have it. It is advisable to have ID with you while crossing a border, and it is required when taking a plane.

      Besides that, I’m not required to carry any kind of ID with me at all. I am required to tell the police who I am when asked, and I am required to provide them with the ID if they need it. If they need it and I don’t have it, I can walk back home and give it to them or they can give me a lift back at home to get it.

      Now, if you’re a visiting foreigner it is still advisable to have some kind of ID on you. But that’s mainly to avoid the hassle of explaining where you left it and having to go get it with the police.

    • bstix@feddit.dk
      16·
      1 day ago

      Most other countries don’t have police violently attack you and send you to some jungle prison for not carrying an ID.

    • Natanael@infosec.pub
      10·
      1 day ago

      I hope you run into some officer treating you like how ICE would, acting like your papers are fake

        • umbrellacloud@leminal.space
          23·
          10 hours ago

          Good for you. I will be sure show you the same amount of solidarity when this happens to you, because it will, as I doubt you are literally a billionare, but you never know.

    • paperazzi@lemmy.world
      101·
      1 day ago

      Hey neighbour, Canadians don’t have to carry ID everywhere we go. We have actual freedom here.

      • Treczoks@lemmy.world
        21·
        23 hours ago

        But now you know about the “supposed to have” part. I prefer having my ID card in my wallet, but not having to be afraid to be randomly abducted by the KKK in uniform.

    • mazzilius_marsti@lemmy.world
      10·
      1 day ago

      well i am from “other countries” and I assure you, as a citizen, I dont need to carry my passport. ID card? sure but only if you need to do stuff that inbolves using the ID e.g. paperwork at gov office, driving license stuff…etc. So most of the time I just leave it at home.