Do You Need to Register Under Trump’s New Alien Registration Requirement?

If you’re an immigrant in the U.S., you may have heard the latest news: The Trump administration has introduced a new requirement for certain immigrants to register with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and provide biometric data (fingerprints).

This announcement has caused a wave of confusion and fear in the immigrant community. If you’re wondering “Do I need to register? What happens if I don’t?”—you’re in the right place. Let’s break it down.

Who Needs to Register?

According to the new rule, you must register if all of the following apply to you:

• You are 14 years old or older
• You have never had your fingerprints taken by U.S. immigration before
• You have been in the U.S. for more than 30 days

This means the rule mostly affects undocumented immigrants who have never had any official contact with immigration authorities.

👉 If you entered the U.S. without inspection and have never filed any immigration application, you might be required to register.

Who DOESN’T Need to Register?

If you’ve already had your fingerprints taken by U.S. immigration, you are already in the system and do NOT need to register. This includes: 

• Green Card holders (lawful permanent residents) 
• Visa U applicants (if you’ve given fingerprints for your application) 
• DACA recipients (if you submitted biometrics for your application) 
• People who entered with a visa (tourist, student, work, etc.) 
• Anyone who has gone through deportation proceedings 
• People with work permits from USCIS

If you’ve applied for any immigration benefit and given fingerprints, you’re likely already registered.

What Happens If You Don’t Register?

The government is saying that failing to register could result in civil fines (meaning you might have to pay a penalty) or even criminal charges (which could lead to jail time). However, they have not clarified exactly how this will be enforced.

This is why it’s crucial to speak with an immigration attorney before making any decisions.

What About U Visa Applicants?

If you have a pending U Visa case, here’s what you need to know:

• If you’ve already done biometrics for your U Visa, you’re good—no need to register.
• If your U Visa was filed recently and you haven’t been called for fingerprints yet, you might want to wait for USCIS to process your biometrics rather than registering separately.
• If you’ve been waiting more than 90 days for a work permit under the U Visa, filing a lawsuit (mandamus) may help speed things up.

Should You Register? What’s the Risk?

This new rule is scary and confusing, and it’s still unclear how it will be enforced. For now, we recommend: 

If you’re already in the immigration system, you don’t need to do anything.

If you’ve never had contact with immigration before, consult an attorney before registering.

If you’re eligible for work authorization but stuck in long processing delays, consider taking action (like a lawsuit) to speed things up.

Final Thoughts

The Trump administration is making big moves on immigration, and this could be just the beginning. If you’re in the U.S. waiting on immigration relief, now is the time to act proactively and secure any benefits you can before more policies change.

Want to check your U Visa wait time? Use our free tool to see when your case might be processed. If you’re stuck in an immigration backlog, we can also help you explore your options to move your case forward faster.

Stay informed, stay safe, and don’t wait for immigration policies to change before taking action!