The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the creation of a new online registry for migrants living in the United States illegally. This move has raised serious concerns among immigration rights groups and experts in immigration law. The registry is designed to track migrants over the age of 14 who are in the U.S. without proper authorization.
According to a press release from the DHS, migrants who are in the U.S. illegally will be required to register their information in the new system. The goal is to “compel” self-deportation, urging migrants to leave voluntarily. The registry had not been set up by Wednesday, but a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) webpage directed migrants to create an online account to register.
In the press release, the DHS emphasized its intention to use “every available tool” to force unauthorized migrants to leave the country. The statement warned that those who fail to register or provide fingerprints may face fines or even imprisonment.
The DHS also reiterated the message from President Donald Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem: people living in the U.S. illegally must leave or risk facing legal consequences. The statement emphasized that the administration intends to enforce all immigration laws, without exceptions, for the safety and security of the country.
The DHS’s announcement referenced a decades-old section of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which requires migrants over 14 years old who have been in the country for more than 30 days and have not registered or been fingerprinted to do so. Immigration experts, however, have raised concerns about the implications of the registry.
Heidi Altman, vice president of policy at the National Immigration Law Center, warned that such registries often violate civil rights and liberties, especially when they are based on national origin, race, or other immutable characteristics.
This situation brings to mind the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) that was established after the 9/11 attacks. The system required certain noncitizens, particularly from Muslim-majority countries and North Korea, to register.
Although national security concerns justified it, critics argue that it led to serious civil rights violations and separated communities. Altman pointed out that more than 83,000 people were forced to register under the NSEERS system, and many were placed in deportation proceedings.
Under the Trump administration’s new registry, the parents or legal guardians of undocumented immigrants under 14 years old who have not previously registered would also have to sign them up for the database. Immigrants over 18 who register would receive proof of registration, which they would be required to carry at all times. This requirement has raised fears that it could lead to a “show me your papers” law, which could lead to racial profiling and discrimination.
Michelle Lapointe, the legal director for the American Immigration Council, expressed concerns about potential abuses of power. She argued that the system could lead to individuals being targeted based on their appearance or perceived immigration status, which could create further divisions in communities.
The DHS’s press release also mentioned the possibility of jail time for those who fail to register, even though being in the country without authorization is typically considered a civil violation, not a criminal one.
As the Trump administration ramps up its deportation efforts, experts like Greg Chen, senior director of Government Relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, believe that few people will choose to register. Many unauthorized immigrants may fear that registering will lead to rapid deportation under the administration’s aggressive policies.
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