President Trump issued an executive order on January 20, 2025, to ensure that people comply with their duty to register with the government under section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. 1302), and that failure to comply is treated as a civil and criminal enforcement priority. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) established a process to help people comply with this requirement.
Who is Required to Register
- Every noncitizen 14 years of age or older, who has not been registered or fingerprinted when applying for a U.S. visa, and remains in the United States for 30 days or longer;
- Every noncitizen who is less than 14 years of age, who has not been registered, and remains in the U.S. for 30 days or longer (to be registered by their parent or legal guardian); and,
- Any noncitizen, whether previously registered or not, who turns 14 years old in the United States must register within 30 days of turning 14 years of age.
What Happens After Registering
DHS will issue evidence of registration to all aliens who have properly registered. All aliens over the age of 18 are required to carry and keep this evidence of registration in their possession at all times.
Who has Registered Already
- Lawful permanent residents;
- Those paroled in the U.S. under INA 212(d)(5) even if the parole has expired;
- Those admitted to the U.S. as nonimmigrants who were issued Form I-94 or I-94W, even if the period of admission has expired;
- All noncitizens present in the United States who were issued immigrant or nonimmigrant visas prior to arrival;
- Those whom DHS has placed into removal proceedings;
- Those issued an employment authorization document;
- Those who have applied for lawful permanent residence using Forms I-485, I-687, I-691, I-698, I-700, even if the applications were denied; and,
- Those issued Border Crossing Cards.
How To Register
Registrations can be completed online using a USCIS online account.
For more information and updates regarding the alien registration requirement, the USCIS has created a tools page dedicated to the alien registration process here.
If you have any questions regarding the alien registration requirement or any other immigration related matter, please do not hesitate to contact KILO Immigration, a Sacramento immigration law firm by filling out this contact form.