The U.S. government is set to initiate a nationwide registry for individuals residing in the country without legal permission, with those who fail to self-report potentially facing legal consequences such as fines or prosecution. This move was disclosed by immigration authorities.
According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, all undocumented individuals in the U.S. are required to register, provide fingerprints, and disclose their address. The initiation of this registry is justified by a provision in the Immigration and Nationality Act and targets individuals aged 14 and above.
This development aligns with the administration’s efforts to fulfill its campaign pledges, which include the deportation of individuals residing illegally in the U.S. and tightening border controls against future asylum-seekers.
The statement further emphasized that failing to register could lead to criminal charges, which may involve fines or imprisonment. Previous administrations have overlooked this law, but the current one has prioritized its enforcement.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services stated on their website that they are planning to develop a form and procedure for registration.
In one of his initial executive orders related to immigration policy, President Donald Trump laid out the framework for this registry and instructed the Department of Homeland Security to promptly inform the public about the requirement for previously unregistered aliens in the U.S. to comply.
There is some uncertainty regarding the willingness of individuals residing illegally in the U.S. to voluntarily register and disclose their personal information to federal authorities. However, the administration stresses that the primary focus for deportation is individuals with criminal records.
An immigration advocacy group, the National Immigration Law Center, pointed out that the last extensive registration campaign by the U.S. government was the Alien Registration Act of 1940. At that time, the registry was used to pinpoint potential national security threats, which were loosely defined as communist or subversive.
The organization has cautioned that the initiation of this registry might be utilized to identify potential candidates for deportation through incarceration and removal.
