Jessica Yellin Instagram – An alarming step in Trump’s immigration crackdown. The Wall Street Journal reports the administration has plans to set up a registry for undocumented immigrants.
Documents show failure to register could mean a $5,000 fine or up to six months in prison. It’s a move towards criminalizing being in the US illegally, whereas it’s usually treated as a civil offense.
People aged 14 and older would be required to submit their personal information, including fingerprints and home addresses, according to WSJ.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on the policy, “aliens in this country illegally face a choice, 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”.
The website could be live within the week, undocumented immigrants then have 30 days to register.
It’s not the first time the US has had an immigrant registry. WSJ reports in 1940, immigrants had to register annually at local post offices in an attempt to catch communists. It was no longer used by the 1960s. President George W. Bush created a registry after 9/11 where men and boys from predominantly Muslim countries had to submit photos and fingerprints to the government. The WSJ says tens of thousands were arrested or deported as a result. | Posted on 26/Feb/2025 04:44:36
