The Donald Trump administration has announced that all immigrants in the United States, including Green Card, H-1B and F-1 visa holders, should carry valid identification documents at all times. This directive comes after a recent US court ruling allowing the Trump administration to require immigrants to register with the federal government. The new rule came into effect on April 11.
“All non-citizens 18 and older must carry this documentation at all times. This administration has directed DHS to prioritise enforcement, there will be no sanctuary for noncompliance,” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said, “President Trump and I have a clear message for those in our country illegally: leave now. If you leave now, you may have the opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream. 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.”
On January 30, Trump signed the executive order ‘Protecting the American People Against Invasion’, directing DHS to begin enforcing the ‘long-ignored’ Alien Registration Act.
According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), “all aliens 14 years of age or older who were not registered and fingerprinted when applying for a US visa and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer, must apply for registration and fingerprinting”.
Those arriving in the US on or after April 11 must register within 30 days of arrival; failure to which may result in fines, imprisonment, or both.
The new rule also mandates that parents or legal guardians register children under 14. Once a child turns 14, they must re-register and submit fingerprints within 30 days.
The department said that the immigrants would receive proof of registration after successfully submitting their fingerprints, which everyone above the age of 18 must carry with them at all times.
The new rule exempts American Indians born in Canada who entered under section 289 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), and members of the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas who entered under the Texas Band of Kickapoo Act.
It warned that failure to comply with the rules may result in criminal and civil penalties. Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor and face fines up to $5,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or both.
USCIS clarified that registration does not confer any immigration status, employment authorisation, or rights or benefits under US laws.
Once registered, all immigrants aged 18 years and above must carry proof of registration with them 24×7. If one doesn’t have evidence of registration in their personal possession, they could face up to $5,000 in fines or serve 30 days in jail, or both.
Under the new rules, all immigrants must report any change of address to USCIS within 10 days. Failing to update this information may result in a fine of up to $5,000 or 30 days in prison, or both. “Any alien who has failed to comply with the change-of-address notification requirements is deportable unless the alien establishes that such failure was reasonably excusable or was not willful,” USCIS noted.
According to the USCIS, individuals who are lawful permanent residents or have applied for permanent residency, possess authorised employment documents, have been paroled into the United States, or were admitted as non-immigrants and hold a valid Form I-94 are considered registered. This also includes those with Border Crossing Cards, individuals placed into removal proceedings by DHS, and those who were issued immigrant or nonimmigrant visas before their most recent entry into the country.
Those who have not applied for a visa through the Department of State, entered the US illegally, submitted one or more benefit requests to USCIS, or are Canadian visitors who entered through land ports of entry without being issued proof of registration are not exempt under the new rule.
Indians who have entered the US on a valid visa (study, work, travel), holding a green card, employment documentation, a border crossing card or an I-94 admission record are considered already registered. However, they must carry valid identification at all times and be ready to present it upon request by authorities.
The Trump administration mandates that all immigrants in the US, including Green Card, H-1B, and F-1 visa holders, carry valid identification documents at all times. Failure to comply may result in fines, imprisonment, or both. The directive comes after a court ruling allowing the administration to require immigrants to register with the government.
Why Green Card, H-1B, and F-1 visa holders must carry ID 24×7 under new US immigration rules – financialexpress.com
