Trump Administration Unveils Nationwide Registry for Undocumented Immigrants, Mandating Fingerprints and Addresses – One America News Network
OAN Staff James Meyers
8:52 AM – Wednesday, February 26, 2025
The Trump administration is expected to announce a new online registry for undocumented migrants as soon as this week, requiring them to submit personal details or risk fines and potential arrest.
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The proposed registry will mandate that undocumented migrants, including those aged 14 and older, provide fingerprints and home addresses, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Failing to register could result in fines of up to $5,000 and a possible six-month prison sentence, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal published on Tuesday.
“Individuals in this country illegally have a choice,” stated a memo from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem regarding the forthcoming policy. “They can either return to their home country and follow the legal procedures to enter the United States, or face the repercussions for continuing to break our laws.”
This move aligns with the 47th President’s increasing efforts to enforce immigration regulations across the country.
Under existing laws, entering the country without authorization is a civil infraction rather than a criminal act, although individuals can still be detained and deported.
The primary goal of the registry is to bring illegal immigrants who have not engaged with the government—such as through asylum requests or work permits—onto the radar of the Department of Homeland Security.
According to the Wall Street Journal, migrants will have a 30-day window to submit their personal information after the registry launches.
“Once an individual registers and undergoes fingerprinting (unless waived), DHS will provide proof of registration, which individuals over 18 must carry at all times,” noted a statement from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website published on Tuesday.
“All unregistered individuals (or previously registered minors who reach the age of 14) in the United States are legally required to comply with these rules,” the statement adds. “Non-compliance will lead to civil and criminal penalties, which may include misdemeanor prosecution and fines.”
The president’s executive order, titled Protecting the American People Against Invasion, instructed DHS to establish a registry under section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, ensuring that non-compliance is treated as a civil and criminal priority.
“The majority of individuals in the United States have already registered, as mandated by law,” US Citizenship and Immigration Services asserted. “However, many individuals currently present in the United States have had no clear process to register and fulfill their obligations under INA 262.”
“To allow unregistered individuals to meet their legal duties under INA 262, USCIS is implementing a new form and process for registration. No individual will have a valid reason for failing to adhere to this law.”
Furthermore, the agency clarifies that “registration does not confer immigration status, nor does registration documentation bestow employment authorization or any other rights or benefits under the INA or any other U.S. regulations.”
Former President George W. Bush instituted a similar immigration registry following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Consequently, thousands of migrants who registered were subsequently detained and deported, according to the Wall Street Journal.
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