New York, NY—Last month, USCIS issued guidance on the Trump administration’s Executive Order on national registration. The guidance announced that most individuals over 14 years old living in the United States without immigration status will need to register with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) – if they are not already registered with them – and provide their fingerprints and address. Individuals would need to carry proof of this registration on them. Not registering or failing to carry proof of registration would be a criminal offense that could lead to detention and deportation.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“At a time when trust in the federal government is plummeting among immigrant communities, the Trump administration is making plans to obtain millions of people’s personal information and requiring them to carry papers. Trump’s registry will create the conditions for mass roundups, and racial profiling of both citizens and noncitizens. We want to be clear to community members that are worried about Trump’s registry: as of now, this registry does not exist. This is a developing situation and we urge people to consult with a trusted legal representative before creating an account with the USCIS or submitting any forms or information. The Trump registry is another example of this administration taking unclear actions in hopes of creating fear and uncertainty in our communities. But if and when this program is unveiled, there will be a heightened threat of criminal prosecution for failure to register or failure to carry evidence of registration, giving Trump another tool for mass deportations and detentions without a pathway to lawful status. This will hurt public safety for all of us, as people will be forced further into the shadows and trust for public institutions will erode.”