The Trump administration is pushing migrants to be fingerprinted for a new registry of those not lawfully present in the United States, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced late Tuesday.
The requirement points to a little-used provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act that requires anyone over the age of 14 who is unlawfully present to register with authorities and alert the government of any change in address.
Speaking with Fox News after the announcement, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the platform would be used to help migrants “relocate” to their home country.
“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,” she said during an appearance on “Jesse Watters Primetime.”
Those in the U.S. on visas and other legal pathways already are fingerprinted and coordinate with immigration agencies.
But expanding the process to those in the country unlawfully is not expected to drive voluntary compliance. The government is largely unaware of where the nation’s estimated more than 11 million undocumented people live and the threat of deportation is likely to make most migrants hesitant to register.
DHS, however, pointed to potential criminal penalties for anyone who does not comply, including six months in prison or a $1,000 fine.
“President Trump and Secretary Noem have a clear message for those in our country illegally: leave now. If you leave now, you may have the opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream,” DHS said in a statement.
“The Trump administration will enforce all our immigration laws—we will not pick and choose which laws we will enforce. We must know who is in our country for the safety and security of our homeland and all Americans.”
