Is it safe to travel inside the United States without papers? What ID to bring

This page is about trips inside the United States. It is general information, not legal advice. If you want to leave the country, read our page on travel with DACA first, because leaving without permission can end your chance to come back.

Can I travel to another state without papers?

Yes. There is no law that stops you from moving between states. Many people without papers fly and drive every year.

But we want to be real with you. Enforcement has grown since 2025, and some trips carry more risk than others. Your risk depends on three things:

1. Your history. A deportation order, an open court case or a past arrest raises your risk a lot.
2. How you travel. Airports and border areas have more federal officers than a drive between two inland cities.
3. Where you go. Some states work much more closely with ICE than California does.

If any of the first point applies to you, talk to a lawyer before you travel. Free help is listed below.

What ID can I use at the airport?

TSA checks ID for everyone 18 and older on domestic flights. Since May 7, 2025, a state license or ID card must be REAL ID to get through security.

An AB 60 license will not work. The California DMV says people who apply for or renew an AB 60 license cannot get a REAL ID, and a card marked "Federal Limits Apply" cannot be used to board a flight. It still works for driving in California and as a photo ID for many everyday things. See Driver's license without papers.

TSA's own list of accepted IDs includes several that people without status may have (checked October 19, 2026):

• A foreign government passport, such as a Mexican or Guatemalan passport
• A U.S. work permit, Form I-766. This is the card people with DACA, TPS or a pending case usually have.
• A border crossing card
• A permanent resident card (green card)

Bring an ID that is not expired. If your passport is old, see Renew your passport or get a consular ID. A consular ID card, like the Mexican matrícula, is not on TSA's list.

Traveling with children? TSA does not ask for ID from children under 18 who fly with an adult inside the U.S. The adult still needs an accepted ID.

What if I show up without an accepted ID?

TSA may still try to confirm who you are. If it cannot, you will not get through the checkpoint.

TSA set a fee for this in a December 2025 federal notice. Its program is called TSA ConfirmID. The notice says collecting the fee starts when TSA announces that people can register, so check tsa.gov before you fly. The fee is $45 per person, it covers a 10 day period, and it is not refundable. Paying does not promise that TSA will confirm your identity, and you may still get extra screening or delays. TSA tells travelers without an accepted ID to arrive at least three hours early.

We do not know what personal information TSA keeps from ConfirmID or who it shares it with. The federal notice that set the fee does not say. If you have a choice, fly with an accepted ID instead.

Is flying risky right now?

It can be. Here is what has been reported:

• The New York Times reported in December 2025 that TSA sends ICE lists of travelers' names several times a week, so ICE can look for people with deportation orders.
• Reuters reported in April 2026 that more than 800 people were arrested after TSA tips, from January 2025 through February 2026.
• The New York Times reported in March 2026 that a mother and daughter with a deportation order were detained after a flight from San Francisco International Airport.
• In a January 2026 hearing in Congress, TSA's acting leader said sharing information among Homeland Security agencies is not new.

These reports focus on people who already have a final deportation order. If that is you, flying is a serious risk. Talk to a lawyer before you book anything. If you do not know whether you have an order, a lawyer can check. See Get a copy of your immigration file.

If you have no order and no open case, the risk is lower, but no one can promise you a trip with no trouble.

Can I drive or take a bus to another state?

Yes, and for many people driving is lower risk than flying. Here is what to know first.

Your license. Your AB 60 license is a valid California license. Other states set their own rules. Florida passed a law in 2023 (SB 1718) that does not accept some out of state licenses issued only to people without papers, and Florida said its list can change. When Florida first posted the list in July 2023, news reports said it named five states: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island and Vermont. California was not on it. Florida updates its list, so check Florida's driver license agency (FLHSMV) before you drive there. For any other state, check that state's DMV or ask a lawyer.

Border checkpoints. Federal rules let Border Patrol work within 100 air miles of the border. Border Patrol runs fixed checkpoints on some highways, including Interstate 5 near San Clemente in Southern California. Agents can stop cars there and ask about status. Plan a route that stays away from the border area if you can.

Police stops. If you are driving and police stop you, you must show your license and registration. You do not have to answer questions about where you were born or your immigration status. Say "I want to remain silent." See If ICE or police stop you on the street or in your car.

Buses and trains. Within that same border area, agents may board buses and trains and ask questions. The same rights apply: stay calm, stay silent about status if you choose, and do not run.

Never cross into another country by accident. Some bus routes, cruises and drives near the border can take you out of the U.S. Leaving without permission can end DACA and can keep you from coming back.

Which places are higher risk?

We cannot rank every state. These are the places where legal groups see more risk:

• Areas near the Mexico border, including San Diego and Imperial counties, and much of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, because Border Patrol works there.
• States with their own immigration laws. Texas is one. Read Traveling to Texas before you go. Florida is another.
• States and counties where local police work with ICE, often through what are called 287(g) agreements. California law limits this here; most other states do not. See Does California law stop local police from helping ICE?
• Cities with large ICE operations in the news. Check local news and a rapid response hotline for the place you are going.

What should I carry, and what should I leave home?

Carry:

• The one accepted ID you plan to use
• The name and phone number of a lawyer or legal clinic, written on paper
• Your red card or a note that says you choose to remain silent

Leave home, with a person you trust:

• Copies of your important papers. See Make a family preparedness plan.

Never carry or show false papers. Lying or using a fake document can turn a stop into a crime and hurt any future case.

If you registered under the 2025 rule, federal law says registered adults 18 and older must carry their registration proof. That includes a work permit for people who have one. Read Do I have to register with the government under the 2025 rule? and ask a lawyer how this applies on trips.

What should I do if I am stopped or questioned?

• Stay calm. Do not run, resist or argue.
• Ask, "Am I free to go?" If yes, leave calmly.
• You can say, "I want to remain silent." You do not have to say where you were born or how you came.
• Do not sign anything you do not understand.
• Ask to speak to a lawyer.

For more, see If immigration agents come.

Questions people ask us

Can I fly with my DACA work permit? Yes. The work permit, Form I-766, is on TSA's list. Make sure it is not expired.

Can I fly with my Mexican passport? Yes. A foreign government passport is on TSA's list. Keep it unexpired.

My kids are citizens. Do they need ID? Not at TSA if they are under 18 and flying with you. You still need yours.

Is a road trip inside California safe? Generally lower risk, as long as you stay away from Border Patrol checkpoints near the border and drive with a valid license. Nothing is risk free.

Can I fly to Hawaii or Puerto Rico? Both are part of the United States. Flights there are domestic. Do not book any trip with a stop in another country.

Who can help?

You don't have to figure this out alone. These are free or low cost public offices and nonprofits. The first five are for San Mateo and Santa Clara County residents. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto: 650-326-6440
• Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County: (650) 558-0915
• Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (Redwood City): consultations by appointment, (650) 587-1558
• San Mateo County Immigrant Services: (650) 363-4194
• Santa Clara County: the Office of Immigrant Relations lists its legal partners. Partner list
• Anywhere in California: the state's map of free immigration legal services, or call (916) 651-8017.
• Anywhere in the U.S.: the DOJ list of free legal service providers.

Only an attorney or a DOJ accredited representative may give you legal advice. See Find a trusted lawyer.

Is there a checklist I can print?

Yes. Go through it a few days before you leave.

You deserve to visit family, go to school and take part in life across this country. Plan well, travel wisely, and do not lose hope.