The Trump administration announced the establishment of a national registry for all individuals residing in the United States without legal documentation, The Associated Press reports.
Immigration officials stated that failure to self-report and register could result in fines, imprisonment, or both.
In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cited a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act as justification for the registry. The initiative, applicable to all individuals aged 14 and older, requires undocumented immigrants to register, provide fingerprints, and disclose their address.
The announcement aligns with the administration’s commitment to fulfilling campaign promises of mass deportations of undocumented individuals and securing the border against future asylum seekers.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) stated on its website that it would soon release a registration form and outline the registration process.
President Donald Trump initially outlined plans for such a registry in one of ten executive orders related to immigration signed on inauguration day. The order mandated that DHS “immediately announce and publicize information about the legal obligation of all previously unregistered aliens in the United States to comply.”
The number of undocumented individuals who will voluntarily come forward and register remains uncertain. However, the administration has emphasized that failure to register will be considered a criminal offense. They have also stated that their initial deportation priority will be individuals with criminal records within the US.
