On February 25, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said that the Trump administration will bring back a part of U.S. immigration law. This part has been inactive for decades. It requires all immigrants who didn’t enter the U.S. with a visa to register with the federal government after they arrive. They also have to carry proof of their registration.
The administration is explaining which immigrants are already considered registered. You can find a full explanation in the section below called “Who the Registration Process Will Affect”. It also plans to issue a new form for immigrants who haven’t registered yet.
The administration is using this upcoming registration process together with federal criminal law. According to this law, it’s a crime for immigrants not to register or not to carry proof of registration. By doing this, the Trump administration gets another way to deal with immigrants: the threat of criminal prosecution.
The registration requirement will put many people in the U.S. in a tough spot. This includes those who entered without being inspected and have had no contact with the federal government while living in American communities. They have to choose between two risky options. Many others, like immigrants already considered registered (including many undocumented immigrants and those with legal status in the U.S.), will be at risk of prosecution if they don’t always carry their registration papers.
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