Trump Administration Enforces Decades-Old Alien Registration Act Amid Controversy

A federal law requiring immigrants to register with the U.S. government is now being heavily enforced for the first time in over 80 years, following an executive order from President Trump.

Originally enacted in 1940 during World War II, the Alien Registration Act (ARA), sometimes known as the Smith Act, has remained in effect but has not been consistently implemented. The Alien Registration Requirement (ARR), part of the ARA, is the requirement placed on individuals to register in compliance with the law. Early in 2025 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that the ARA would be heavily enforced beginning on April 11, in accordance with Trump’s Executive Order 14159: Protecting the American People Against Invasion.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Response

The decision has sparked widespread criticism and legal challenges from immigration advocacy groups, who argue that it could lead to the mass removal of thousands of undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for years. It is believed anywhere between 2.2 million and 3.2 million people over the age of 14 are in the U.S. without registering with the government—something they now must do. Despite efforts, a federal judge ruled in favor of the administration, allowing the policy to take effect as planned.

In a press release, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem defended the decision saying:

“The Trump administration will enforce all our immigration laws — we will not pick and choose which laws we will enforce. We must know who is in our country for the safety and security of our homeland and all Americans.”

Unsure that her message was clear she added:

“President Trump and I have a clear message for those in our country illegally: Leave now. If you choose to leave now, you may still have the opportunity to return legally, enjoy our freedoms, and pursue the American dream.”

The registry is part of an effort to compel “mass self-deportation” to take the pressure off law enforcement. DHS officials warned in the statement Thursday that “there will be no sanctuary for noncompliance.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has launched a new mobile app, CBP Home, allowing immigrants to voluntarily register with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service as part of a self-deportation process.

Who Must Register

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) says that “all aliens 14 years of age or older who were not registered and fingerprinted (if required) when applying for a U.S. visa and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer.”

Once an immigrant has done this, then DHS will issue them registration cards which must be carried at all times.

USCIS says that anyone who has not applied for a visa, has not been issued USCIS registration documents or been fingerprinted by immigration officials must now register including:

• Immigrants who crossed either the U.S.-Mexico or U.S.-Canada border illegally
• Canadian visitors who entered via a port of entry but did not receive any evidence of registration
• Immigrants who submitted benefits requests to USCIS, such as deferred action (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS), who were not issued evidence of registration

How to Register

To comply, individuals must submit a new form, G-325R, available on the USCIS website. The process requires creating an online USCIS account and completing the free digital form.

The form asks for detailed personal information including:

• Full name, date and place of birth, nationality and gender
• Current U.S. address
• Employment history
• Marital and family status
• Past immigration status and history

Legal Ramifications of Non-Compliance

USCIS says that any immigrant who “willfully fails or refuses to apply to register or be fingerprinted,” or parents/guardians who fail to register children, will be guilty of a misdemeanor. Convictions could lead to a fine of up to $5,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to six months.

While enforcement will focus primarily on individuals without existing registration records, USCIS notes that the obligation to carry documentation technically applies to all non-citizens in the U.S.

A USCIS spokesperson clarified to Newsweek that registration does not grant legal immigration status or work authorization. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem also noted that while registration may expose individuals to deportation, it could potentially support lawful re-entry into the U.S. in the future.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified those who fail to register face deportation with no option to return.

The implementation of the ARA marks one of the most significant immigration enforcement shifts in recent history, reigniting debate over how the U.S. manages undocumented populations and balances national security with human rights.