President Trump’s proposal to mandate that all undocumented immigrants register their identities is expected to place millions in the path of large-scale deportation efforts, as most are unlikely to comply, sources and experts told The NY Post.
This will, in turn, facilitate Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts to detain those who entered the U.S. unlawfully. Migrants who cannot demonstrate their legal status and fail to register will likely face immediate detention under the proposed plan.
The initiative seeks to remove millions of migrants from the complex immigration court system and impose criminal charges that would expedite their detention and removal, according to sources.
“I think it’s a joke that they think aliens will actually report to register,” remarked one Homeland Security insider.
Another source pointed out that migrants who have pending asylum cases or other similar applications may be more likely to register “so they can prove they’re not cheating or running away.”
John Fabbricatore, the former head of ICE in Denver, told The Post that the policy “puts more of a consequence on being in the country without permission,” affecting both those who crossed the border illegally and those who overstayed their visas.
Currently, being in the U.S. unlawfully is considered a civil violation, not a criminal one.
This proposal marks a significant extension of the Trump administration’s mass deportation strategy, which has primarily focused on detaining criminals, now expanding to target millions of undocumented individuals.
Yet, reports are surfacing that ICE is expanding its operations, with many migrants who have not been charged with crimes being swept up in immigration raids.
Under the proposed registration plan, all undocumented migrants aged 14 and older will need to provide their fingerprints and home addresses, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Failure to comply could result in fines up to $5,000 and a possible six-month jail sentence, as reported by the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.
“Aliens in this country illegally face a choice,” stated a memo from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem regarding the new policy. “They can return home and follow the legal process to come to the United States or they can deal with the consequences of continuing to violate our laws.”
In one month, ICE apprehended 20,000 migrants, nearly as many as the Biden administration detained throughout the entire 2024 fiscal year, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
However, Tom Homan, the border czar, expressed dissatisfaction with the pace at which federal agents are operating.
Trump and his administration have indicated they are working towards deporting millions of migrants, a task that will require a rapid acceleration in arrests.
Once the registry is operational, undocumented immigrants will have 30 days to submit their information to the authorities, as detailed in documents reviewed by the Wall Street Journal.
“Once an alien has registered and appeared for fingerprinting (unless waived), DHS will issue evidence of registration, which aliens over the age of 18 must carry and keep in their possession at all times,” stated a notice on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website posted Tuesday.
“It is the legal obligation of all unregistered aliens (or previously registered children who turn 14 years old) in the United States to comply with these requirements,” the notice continued. “Failure to comply will result in criminal and civil penalties, up to and including misdemeanor prosecution and the payment of fines.”
This is not the first time the U.S. government has established such a registry. A registry designed to track suspected communist immigrants was created in 1940 but was discontinued by the 1960s after proving to be too costly, according to the Journal.
Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, former President George W. Bush also introduced an immigration registry, leading to the arrests and deportations of tens of thousands of immigrants.
{Matzav.com}
