WASHINGTON, Feb 25 (Reuters) - The Department of Homeland Security has issued a new directive that could result in significant fines, potential imprisonment, or both for immigrants in the U.S. illegally who fail to register with the federal government. This directive underscores the administration's commitment to enforcing all immigration laws.
A spokesperson for the department stated, "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." This statement highlights the administration's focus on national security and the importance of immigrant registration.
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, all immigrants over the age of 14 who were not fingerprinted or registered when applying for a U.S. visa and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer are required to register and be fingerprinted. This process is crucial to ensure the safety and security of the nation.
Once an immigrant has registered and been fingerprinted, the Department of Homeland Security will issue evidence of registration. This documentation must be carried by immigrants over the age of 18 at all times, as stated on the website.
Upon his return to office last month, President Donald Trump declared illegal immigration at the Mexico border a national emergency. He directed the department to ensure that immigrants register with the federal government, emphasizing the administration's commitment to controlling immigration at the border.
The administration has also sought to shut down the previous Biden administration's CBP One entry program. This program had allowed hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter the U.S. legally by scheduling an appointment on an app. These changes reflect the current administration's approach to managing legal entry into the country.
For more information, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.
Reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by Howard Goller
