Trump Administration to require undocumented migrants to register
US President Donald Trump’s administration has announced plans to create a national register for undocumented migrants, with those failing to sign up potentially facing criminal prosecution.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated on tuesday that all undocumented migrants over the age of 14 must provide the US government with their address and fingerprints. This initiative marks the latest step in the White House’s effort to significantly overhaul the US immigration system, which has included promises of mass arrests and deportations—efforts that have largely failed to materialise.
Experts have raised concerns over the feasibility of enforcing such a registration system, citing logistical challenges and legal hurdles.
The DHS justified the policy by referring to a provision within the complex Immigration and Nationality Act. While the law has rarely been enforced, a similar registration requirement was implemented in 1940, during heightened anxiety in the lead-up to the Second World War. At that time, undocumented migrants were required to register with the government at local post offices.
In a statement issued on tuesday night, the DHS suggested that the measure could lead to mass “self-deportation”, which it described as a “safer” course of action for both migrants and law enforcement. The department argued that the policy would also allow immigration authorities to better allocate resources.
“President Trump and [Homeland Security] Secretary [Kristi] Noem have a clear message for those in the country illegally: leave now,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated.
“If you leave now, you may have the opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream,” she added. “We must know who is in our country for the safety and security of our homeland and all Americans.”
A separate memo from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) clarified that lawful residents, individuals who have entered the US on visas, and those already in immigration proceedings would be exempt from the new registration directive.
There are an estimated 13 million undocumented migrants currently residing in the US. However, it remains unclear how many will comply with the registration requirement or how it will be enforced.
The national immigration law center, an advocacy organisation, has criticised the policy, warning that it could be used to “identify and target people for detention and deportation”. The organisation highlighted that previous attempts to implement a registry in the US have historically been used to target groups considered potential national security threats, such as communists and so-called subversives during the second world war.
Nayna Gupta, policy director at the American immigration council, told the BBC that she believes the directive will be “ineffective”.
“Without any assurances, it’s hard to imagine undocumented migrants following this new process,” she said. “Essentially, what they are saying to folks is to put them on notice, when they’ve made clear that their goal is mass deportation.”
She further noted that the vast majority of undocumented migrants in the US have been residing in the country for over 15 years, making them even less likely to comply.
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“It creates yet another tool for the Trump administration to advance the mass deportation agenda,” Ms Gupta added.
Mass deportations have been a key pillar of Trump’s campaign message and were the focus of several immigration and border-related executive orders signed during his first week in office. However, reports suggest that both the president and other officials have been dissatisfied with the pace of removals.
Data obtained by Reuters indicates that nearly 38,000 people were deported during Trump’s first month in office, compared to a monthly average of approximately 57,000 during Joe Biden’s final full year in office.
The White House has celebrated a 36% decrease in border crossings in January 2025 compared to December 2024. During that period, the Biden administration managed border operations for the first three weeks before the Trump administration assumed control. Anticipated restrictive asylum and immigration policies under Trump are believed to have contributed to the decline in crossings.
