Millions of people living in the United States without formal immigration registration records could soon be required to submit personal information and biometric data under a new Department of Homeland Security<\/a> (DHS<\/a>) rule\u2014one that marks a significant shift in how long\u2011standing immigration laws are enforced.<\/p>\n DHS issued a final rule formalizing a nationwide system<\/a> requiring certain non\u2011citizens to register with the federal government, provide fingerprints, and carry proof of compliance or face penalties.<\/p>\n It signals a shift toward actively enforcing a legal requirement that has existed for decades but has only rarely been used in practice.<\/p>\n For many non\u2011citizens living in the U.S., the change could mean new paperwork, new compliance obligations, and potential legal risk depending on how the policy is enforced.<\/p>\n Non\u2011citizens aged 14 and older who remain in the U.S. for more than 30 days without prior registration\u2014potentially millions\u2014are already required under federal law to register, but may now face active enforcement if they have not previously done so.<\/p>\n Newsweek <\/em>reached out to DHS via email for comment on Friday morning.<\/p>\n Registration requirements for non\u2011citizens are not new. Federal law has long required many foreign nationals to notify the government of their presence. What has changed is enforcement. <\/p>\n A January 2025 executive order directed DHS to prioritize compliance, turning a largely dormant requirement into an active policy tool with clear penalties for failure.<\/p>\n The rule, set for publication in the Federal Register, formalizes a system first introduced in March 2025 and signals a broader push to identify and track individuals who have not previously been registered through visa or entry processes. <\/p>\n The new filing goes further than what was introduced last year by:<\/p>\n In practical terms, the earlier rule built the system. This one locks it into place and defines how it will operate going forward.<\/p>\n While the legal requirement to register has existed for decades, the latest move clarifies who must comply\u2014and raises the stakes for those who do not.<\/p>\n That earlier effort functioned as a rapid rollout. This new filing cements the framework\u2014clarifying which forms count as registration, defining acceptable proof, and refining how individuals will comply. <\/p>\n At the center of the policy is Section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which requires most non\u2011citizens aged 14 and older who remain in the United States for more than 30 days to register and, in many cases, be fingerprinted.<\/p>\n Parents or legal guardians must register children under 14, while individuals who turn 14 are required to re\u2011register and provide fingerprints within 30 days. Once registered, adults are expected to carry proof of registration with them.<\/p>\n Failure to comply can bring civil and criminal penalties, including fines or short-term imprisonment. Those penalties have existed in law for decades but have been applied inconsistently. Under the current approach, they could become far more routine.<\/p>\n The policy has already drawn scrutiny from immigration advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights Watch, who argue that expanding a centralized registration system could discourage some people from interacting with authorities or reporting crimes. <\/p>\n They point to past enforcement policies and recent research showing that heightened immigration enforcement can reduce crime reporting and erode trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement.<\/p>\n For many non\u2011citizens, the rule will not require any new action. Individuals who entered the United States through formal channels\u2014such as visa holders, lawful permanent residents, or those issued entry records\u2014are generally already considered registered.<\/p>\n The focus instead is on those who were never captured by those systems. That includes some people who entered without inspection, long\u2011term residents who arrived as children and never registered independently, and certain applicants whose prior filings did not include full biometric processing.<\/p>\n DHS estimates that between 2.2 million and 3.2 million people could fall into this category, though the exact number remains uncertain and may depend on how the policy is enforced in practice.<\/p>\n For those individuals, compliance is not automatic. It requires taking active steps\u2014creating an account, submitting personal information, and attending a biometric appointment if required\u2014knowing that registration does not confer legal status or protection from removal.<\/p>\n Legal challenges filed after the 2025 rollout remain ongoing, leaving open the possibility of further changes or delays.<\/p>\n For now, the direction is clear. A requirement that once existed largely on paper is being transformed into a structured, enforceable system.<\/p>\n What happens next will depend on how aggressively it is applied\u2014and how many of those now pulled into scope choose, or are able, to comply.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mais Not\u00edcias<\/a><\/p>\n Home Page – In\u00edcio<\/a><\/p>\nRead More on <\/span>News<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/p>\n<\/section>\n
Key Points<\/h2>\n
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Why It Matters<\/h2>\n
A System Built In 2025 Now Made Permanent<\/h2>\n
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A Long\u2011Standing Legal Requirement With Real Consequences<\/h2>\n
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Millions Could Fall Into A Newly Defined Gap<\/h2>\n
What Happens Next <\/h2>\n