"It doesn't benefit you, but it's forced": Judge authorizes mandatory registration of immigrants in the U.S. as of today

With the judge's ruling, President Trump receives a new boost in his effort to have all undocumented foreigners register with USCIS. The process includes taking their fingerprints and conducting home verifications.

The Republican president's initiative was endorsed this Tuesday by Magistrate Trevor Neil McFadden, and it explicitly authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to require all foreigners without legal status to formally register with the Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

On social media, several immigrants have asked in recent hours what they should do and who exactly needs to register. Such is the case of Yanela Matos, a young woman who entered the United States in January 2025, and asked if she needs to comply with the rule.

According to what they have been told, registration will be mandatory for all those who have been in the country for more than 30 days and do not have valid immigration documents. Non-compliance will result in fines, criminal charges, or even immediate jail or deportation, as experts clarify.

Are minors also?

It is specified that the regulation requires individuals over 14 years old to provide their fingerprints and declare their residence address. In the case of parents and/or guardians, they must register minors in their care. In each of these cases, the process must be completed through the official USCIS website.

No, it's not a benefit or regularization. It doesn't benefit you, but you're obligated. It's a tool to identify and expel those who are here illegally, a DHS spokesperson explained.

However, as expected, many immigrants are afraid. It is known that the Trump administration will use this database to coordinate future deportations. At least, this has been announced previously. In fact, many lawyers and civil rights organizations warn that it will be used to facilitate mass detentions without sufficient guarantees.

One of them pointed out: "This is not just another bureaucratic procedure, it's about making ICE's job easier, so they know exactly where their deportable immigrants are."

An old law now dusted off

It's nothing new. This regulation is based on Article 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which hadn't been used since the 1940s. Now, with Trump, it has been briefly reactivated, although there was a closer precedent, which was after the September 11 attacks, when registration was required for citizens of 25 countries, almost all Muslim.

In those years, it was used for the deportation of approximately 13,000 immigrants from the United States before it was canceled later in 2016.

Trump had already referred to this measure in February as part of his immigration crackdown. With the court ruling, the process is now secured and comes into effect this Friday. The DHS reminded that those who do not comply will face immediate consequences.