Trump Administration Plans to Make Undocumented Migrants Join Registry
Program Targets Those Who Have Not Encountered Immigration Officials in the Past
The Trump administration has announced plans to launch a registry requiring immigrants in the country illegally, including children, to submit personal information and fingerprints. Those who are at least 14 years old and don’t comply could face fines or misdemeanor prosecution.
Program Not a Form of Legal Status
The program, which was immediately assailed by immigrant rights advocates, targets those who have not encountered immigration officials in the past. It ratchets up Trump’s deluge of orders and policy changes intended to toughen immigration laws and facilitate deportations.
Registration Process Unclear
It is unclear how people will register, but the Department of Homeland Security is asking all individuals in the country without legal status to prepare by creating an account with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS. The agency said it will soon announce a form and process for the registrations.
No Excuse for Non-Compliance
“No alien will have an excuse for failure to comply with this law,” the announcement states, noting that the registry is not a form of legal status and does not establish employment authorization.
National Security and Public Safety Cited
Agency officials cited national security and the safety of U.S. citizens in establishing the program. Immigrants over the age of 18 will also be required to carry Homeland Security-issued evidence of the registration “at all times,” according to details posted on the USCIS website.
History of Similar Programs
The program rests on the Alien Registration Act of 1940, enacted as World War II raged in Europe, which required most noncitizens to sign up. It forbade anyone from advocating for the overthrow of government and carried penalties of fines and up to six months in prison for failure to register. President George W. Bush created a registry for immigrants from Muslim countries after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Thousands of those who registered were deported.
Reactions from Advocates
Heidi Altman, vice president of policy at the National Immigration Law Center, expressed concerns about the legality and constitutionality of the program. “You can’t look at this registry announcement in isolation,” she said. “We know exactly what happens in history when a government asks people to come forward for any sort of registry process on the basis of their nationality, their race or their place of birth. A categorical stripping of civil rights and civil liberties usually follows.”
Conclusion
The Trump administration’s plan to make undocumented migrants join a registry has been met with criticism from immigrant rights advocates. The program’s legality and constitutionality have been questioned, and its implications for national security and public safety are unclear. As the details of the program are released, it will be important to monitor its impact on individuals and communities.
FAQs
* What is the purpose of the registry?
* The purpose of the registry is to track and monitor individuals who are in the country illegally, with the goal of deporting them.
* Who is required to register?
* All individuals in the country without legal status are required to register, including children.
* What are the consequences of non-compliance?
* Those who are at least 14 years old and do not comply could face fines or misdemeanor prosecution.
* Is the registry a form of legal status?
* No, the registry is not a form of legal status and does not establish employment authorization.
