A federal judge has approved the Trump administration’s plan to require all individuals in the U.S. illegally to register with the federal government, a move that could significantly impact immigrants nationwide.
In his ruling on Thursday, Judge Trevor Neil McFadden sided with the administration, which argued that the requirement is simply the enforcement of an existing law for non-citizens. The rule takes effect on Friday.
The Department of Homeland Security announced on February 25 that all individuals in the U.S. illegally must register, and those who fail to do so may face fines or prosecution. Registration will be mandatory for anyone aged 14 or older who lacks legal status, and people must carry documentation proving their registration or risk prison time and fines.
The registration process will include providing fingerprints and addresses, with parents and guardians responsible for registering minors. Canadians staying in the U.S. for more than 30 days, such as those spending winters in Florida, will also need to comply.
The registration requirement, rooted in laws dating back to the Alien Registration Act of 1940 and the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, has rarely been enforced. Though federal law has long required non-citizens to register, it wasn’t widely used until recent years, including a limited post-9/11 program that required men from specific countries to register. Advocates argue this new initiative is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to facilitate mass deportations. They also claim the government failed to follow proper procedures for public notification.
Immigrants now face a difficult decision: register and risk deportation or remain in hiding and risk being penalized for non-compliance.
