DHS to implement Alien Registration Act

Daily News Article   —   Posted on February 26, 2025

(by Mike Jenkins, Tampa Free Press) – Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced the enforcement of the Alien Registration Act of 1940, a long-dormant law requiring undocumented immigrants to register with the federal government.

The announcement comes as the Trump administration ramps up its efforts to remove an estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants from the country, a plan that has sparked fierce debate and opposition from Democrats and activists.

The Alien Registration Act, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940, mandates that non-citizens register with the federal government within 30 days of entering the United States. Under Secretary Noem’s plan, undocumented immigrants will be required to self-register online at USCIS.gov/alienregistration, where they will be fingerprinted and processed.

Those who comply will avoid criminal charges and fines and will be assisted in relocating to their home countries.

“We are enforcing the Alien Registration Act, which is using every single tool that we have at our disposal to do exactly what President Trump promised the American people,” Noem said in a Fox News interview. “If they don’t register, they’re breaking federal law, which has always been in place. We’re just going to start enforcing it.”

Noem emphasized that the program is designed to provide a “safer environment” for both immigrants and communities, save taxpayer dollars, and offer individuals an opportunity to return to the U.S. legally in the future. “It allows them an opportunity to come back to this country and to be an American and to live the American dream,” she said.

The Trump administration’s deportation plan aims to remove 12 million undocumented immigrants by the midterm elections, a goal that would require ejecting nearly 500,000 individuals per month. This represents a 600% increase in deportation activity compared to current levels. …

The administration’s deportation efforts have faced resistance from left-wing activists, particularly in sanctuary cities like Los Angeles.

In addition to resistance, some activists have engaged in doxing—publishing the personal information of ICE agents, including their names, photos, and phone numbers. Secretary Noem condemned the practice, calling it “dangerous” and “criminal.”

“What they’re doing is putting these law enforcement officers’ lives in jeopardy,” Noem said. “They are exposing them to dangerous criminals, to the cartels, to gangs that will take their lives in order to perpetuate their drug trafficking, human trafficking, and illegal activities. We will go after them, and there will be consequences.”

Published on Feb. 25 at Tampa Free Press. Reprinted here for educational purposes only. May not be reproduced on other websites without permission.