Trump Proposes Fines and Prison Time for Undocumented Immigrants Who Fail to Register in the U.S.

Undocumented immigrants in the United States aged 14 and older who do not provide their fingerprints may face fines of up to $5,000 and six months in prison, according to a new measure announced by the Trump administration.

According to The Guardian, in a report by Dani Anguiano, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that under the executive order "Protecting the American People Against Invasion," signed by former President Donald Trump, undocumented immigrants must register with the federal government. The measure also requires parents or guardians to register children under 14. Those aged 18 and over must carry a document proving their registration at all times.

This directive is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to intensify the crackdown on illegal immigration and promote mass deportations. Since the beginning of his term, Trump has attempted to suspend refugee resettlement programs (though a court blocked this measure), cut off access to legal aid for immigrant children (later reversing the decision), and allow immigration raids in schools and churches (some actions were blocked by court orders). Additionally, his administration has begun sending undocumented immigrants to Guantánamo.

Under the program announced this week, undocumented immigrants who have been in the U.S. for more than 30 days will be required to register and undergo fingerprinting. Parents and guardians must register children under 14, and once they reach that age, they must reapply and provide fingerprints. Those who do not comply will face criminal penalties, including misdemeanor charges and fines.

The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the information, noted that undocumented immigrants will also be required to provide their home addresses. Failure to register could result in fines of up to $5,000 and up to six months in prison.

In an interview with Fox News, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that this legislation has long been in place but that the Trump administration has decided to enforce it more strictly as part of its immigration control plan. According to Noem, registration allows immigrants to avoid criminal charges and facilitates their return to their home countries, potentially allowing them to reenter the U.S. legally in the future.

“If they don’t register, they are breaking federal law, which has always been in place,” Noem said. “We are simply going to start enforcing it to ensure these aliens return home, and when they want to become an American, they can visit us again.”

“We will use this tool to ensure we follow our law and provide people an opportunity to return and come back the right way,” she continued.

The National Immigration Law Center expressed concerns about the new registry, recalling that the last time the U.S. government implemented a similar campaign was with the Alien Registration Act of 1940. The organization warned that this measure could be used to identify and deport undocumented immigrants on a large scale.

“Any attempt by the Trump administration to create a registration process for immigrants previously unable to register would be used to identify and target people for detention and deportation,” the center warned.

The Associated Press also contributed to this report.