The purpose of Real ID was to create pressure on the states to adopt a minimum and standard set of controls around government (state) issued ids. This could not be mandated by the federal government as this is a state’s right to issue documentation to their citizens.
However, by using the leverage of not accepting state ids that did not provide basic information to establish citizenship, states soon realized that conforming is easier than resisting. California is just a bit behind the curve. Also, by creating minimum standards for state issued ids, it now becomes a crime to submit fraudulent documents.
But how does any of this matter, if states can give driver’s licenses to illegal aliens anyway?? How does a Real ID license establish citizenship when illegals are getting licenses in a number of states now?