Enterline & Partners Consulting | info@enterlinepartners.com

Search
Close this search box.

Trump Administration Issues Executive Order Requiring Alien Registration Requirement

As posted on the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) website, on January 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order (“EO”) 14159, “Protecting the American People Against Invasion”. The EO directs the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) to ensure that aliens comply with their duty to register with the government.  Failure to comply with the registration requirement is treated as a civil and criminal enforcement priority.

The DHS requires that, with limited exceptions, 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, must apply for registration and fingerprinting. Similarly, parents and legal guardians of aliens below the age of 14 must ensure that those child aliens are registered. Within 30 days of reaching his or her 14th birthday, all previously registered aliens must apply for re-registration and to be fingerprinted.

Once an alien has registered and appeared for fingerprinting (unless waived), DHS will issue evidence of registration. Aliens over the age of 18 must carry and keep their evidence of registration in their personal possession at all times.

How To Determine If You Are Registered

Anyone who has been issued one of the documents designated as evidence of registration  has already registered. Also, anyone who submitted one of the forms  provided fingerprints (unless waived) and was not issued one of the pieces of evidence, has complied with the registration requirement .  Aliens who have already registered include:

  • Lawful Permanent Residents;
  • Aliens paroled into the United States  even if the period of parole has expired;
  • Aliens admitted to the United States as nonimmigrants who were issued Form I-94 or I-94W (paper or electronic), even if the period of admission has expired;
  • All aliens present in the United States who were issued immigrant or nonimmigrant visas before their last date of arrival;
  • Aliens whom DHS has placed into removal proceedings;
  • Aliens issued an Employment Authorization Document;
  • Aliens who have applied for lawful permanent residence using Forms I-485, I-687, I-691, I-698, I-700, and provided fingerprints (unless waived), even if the applications were denied; and
  • Aliens issued Border Crossing Cards.

You Must Register Within 30 Days If You:

  • Are 14 or older, were not registered and fingerprinted when applying for a U.S. visa, and stay in the U.S. for 30+ days;
  • Are a parent or legal guardian of an unregistered child under 14 who stays in the U.S. for 30+ days;
  • Turn 14 in the U.S. after previously registering.

Criminal Penalties for Willful Failure or Refusal to Register or Provide Biometrics (if required)

Any alien willfully failing or refusing to register or provide biometrics (if required) is a misdemeanor. Parents or guardians who fail to register a child under 14 years old also will face penalties. Upon conviction, violators may be fined up to $5,000, imprisoned for up to 6 months, or both.

Criminal Penalties for Failure to Carry Evidence of Registration

Aliens 18 years and older must carry proof of registration at all times. Failure to do so is a misdemeanor, with penalties of up to US$5,000 in fines, 30 days in jail, or both.

Criminal and Immigration Penalties for Failure to Update Your Address with USCIS

All aliens must report any change of address to USCIS within 10 days. Failing to notify USCIS of a change of address within 10 days is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to US$5,000, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both. Noncompliance may also lead to deportation unless the alien can prove the failure was excusable or not willful.

For more information on the Executive Order requiring alien registration, please contact us at info@enterlinepartners.com.

ENTERLINE & PARTNERS CONSULTING   

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Office   

146C7 Nguyen Van Huong St, Thao Dien Ward,   
District 2, Thu Duc City   
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam   

Tel: +84 933 301 488   
Email: info@enterlinepartners.com   
Facebook: Enterline & Partners – Dịch vụ Thị thực và Định cư Hoa Kỳ   
YouTube: @EnterlineAndPartnersConsulting   
Website: http://enterlinepartners.com   

Manila, Philippines Office   

LKG Tower 37th Floor  
6801 Ayala Avenue   
Makati City, Philippines 1226   

Tel: +63 917 543 7926   
Email: info@enterlinepartners.com   
Facebook: Enterline and Partners Philippines   
Website: https://enterlinepartners.com/language/en/welcome/   

Copyright 2025. This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. This article may be changed with or without notice. The opinions expressed in this article are those of Enterline & Partners only.

CATEGORY
time
recent posts
CTA_Collection

Over 18,000 successful customers with Enterline &
Partners, realizing the dream of immigration

Latest News

Supreme Court Hands the Trump Administration a Partial Victory in Ongoing Birthright Citizenship Litigation

The United States Supreme Court has given President Donald Trump’s Executive Order (“EO”) curbing birthright citizenship a partial victory. The ruling does not impact “Birthright Citizenship” but rather restricts district court judges from issuing nation-wide (or “universal”) injunctions against Executive Orders.  In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court held that lower federal court judges who issued nationwide injunctions against the EO went too far and granted the Trump Administration’s request to narrow the injunctions issued in Maryland, Washington and Massachusetts. While the Supreme Court’s ruling was a dramatic shift in how lower federal court judges have operated for years, the decision left enough room for challengers to the EO to prevent it from taking effect while litigation works its way through the federal court system. Specifically, the EO, which also suffered a setback by the Federal Court of Appeals will remain blocked for an additional thirty (30) days) allowing the

Read more >

When Do Sponsor Obligations End Under Form I-864?

For immigrants to the United States, the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support (“Form I-864”), is a critical part of the family-based immigration process. It is a legally enforceable contract in which a sponsor agrees to financially support the intended immigrant, helping ensure that the immigrant does not rely on certain U.S. government benefits after becoming a permanent resident. By signing Form I-864, the sponsor takes on long-term financial responsibility, but this obligation is not indefinite. The U.S. government outlines specific situations under which the sponsor’s duties come to an end. When Will These Obligations End?  A sponsors obligations under a Form I-864 end when the sponsored immigrant: A sponsor’s obligations under a Form I-864 also end if the sponsor dies. As such, the sponsor’s estate is not required to take responsibility for the sponsored immigrant following the sponsor’s death. Divorce does not terminate the responsibility, and if the sponsor dies,

Read more >

F, M and J Student Visa Interviews to Resume with Enhanced Social Media Vetting

The United States Department of State (“DOS”) has instructed Embassies and Consulates to begin accepting new F, M, and J student visa application appointments following a temporary suspension. The pause was initiated to allow DOS to implement policy changes regarding social media vetting. After the suspension, e F, M, and J student visa applicants are required to make their social media accounts public for vetting purposes. In a DOS announcement, DOS will use all information available for “visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security. Under this new guidance, we will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications.” The new policy, following the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to begin screening anti-Semitic online activity posted by

Read more >
Vietnam
icons8-exercise-96 chat-active-icon