Trump Administration Plans to Require Undocumented Immigrants to Register
The Trump administration said on Tuesday that it plans to make undocumented immigrants age 14 or older in the United States register and provide their fingerprints to the U.S.government or potentially face criminal prosecution.The announcement by the Department of Homeland Security is a drastic escalation in the Trump administration’s efforts to push millions of immigrants in the country illegally to leave on their own.
Administration officials have repeatedly implored such immigrants to depart.Now they are adding an implicit threat.“President Trump and Secretary Noem have a clear message for those in our country illegally: Leave now,” Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the department, said in a statement, referring to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
“If you leave now, you may have the opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream.”She added that “we must know who is in our country for the safety and security of our homeland and all Americans.”Migrants who do not register could face criminal or civil penalties, including fines.But it is unlikely the new rule will result in widespread compliance.Immigrants in the country illegally are unlikely to come forward to register with the government, especially given Mr.
Trump’s threats of mass deportations.The administration also does not know where many unauthorized immigrants are, making it difficult to prosecute them if they do not register.Still, the move was a sign of the Trump administration’s intent to use every resource available to create a hostile environment for immigrants with the hope that they will leave the United States voluntarily.“We’re seeing an effort to expand arrests through any means possible, so this provision likely aims to create additional justifications to arrest and deport more individuals from the country,” said Cris Ramón, a senior immigration adviser for UnidosUS, a civil rights organization.
“It also creates additional confus...