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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a new policy requiring illegal immigrants over the age of 14 to register and provide fingerprints in an effort to create a national registry of people illegally in the United States.
Some shit you should know before you read: Back in 1952, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) was enacted as a federal law governing immigration and citizenship in the United States. The Act consolidated and codified earlier immigration statutes, establishing rules for visas, naturalization, and deportation. One of its provisions requires that anyone over the age of 14 who is unlawfully present in the US must register with federal authorities and report any changes in address. This clause was designed to keep track of noncitizens residing in the country, though it was rarely enforced under both republican and democratic administrations.
What’s going on now: While speaking on Fox News, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem outlined a new initiative requiring illegal immigrants over the age of 14 to register with the federal government and provide fingerprints. The program is based on a provision in the Immigration and Nationality Act, which mandates that individuals unlawfully in the US must notify authorities of their presence and report any change of address. Noem said the initiative’s purpose is to help migrants “relocate” to their home countries, stating, “The Alien Registration Act says that within 30 days of being in this country illegally, someone must register with the federal government. They will be fingerprinted. They must announce that they are here. And if they do so, they can avoid criminal charges and fines, and we will help them relocate right back to their home country.”
DHS argues that this registry is necessary for national security and public safety, insisting on the need to know who is residing in the country. Noem stressed the administration’s commitment to enforcing all immigration laws, saying, “We’re just going to start enforcing it to make sure the undocumented immigrants go back home. And when they want to be an American, then they can come and visit us again.” The agency also noted that individuals who comply with the registration process could have an opportunity to return to the US legally in the future.
Those who do not register or fail to notify the government of address changes could face six months of imprisonment or a $1,000 fine. Secretary Noem made it clear that noncompliance would be treated as a criminal offense, noting that “An alien’s failure to register is a crime that could result in a fine, imprisonment, or both. For decades, this law has been ignored – not anymore.” She added, “If you come to our country and you break our laws, we will hunt you down. Criminals are not welcome in the United States.”
Another view: This all comes as some have criticized the new registry initiative as overly “harsh” and potentially “dangerous” for illegal immigrants. Critics also warn that requiring migrants to carry proof of registration at all times is “unprecedented” in the US and could lead to racial profiling and discrimination. Nayna Gupta, policy director with the American Immigration Council, described the initiative as putting undocumented people in a “horrible position.”
