Alien Registration Act: 3 Must-Know Tips to Stay Safe
On April 11, 2025, the administration began enforcing a 1940 law, known as the Alien Registration Act. It requires every foreign national, age 14 years or older who will be in the United States for 30 days or more, to be registered and fingerprinted. Here are 3 must-knows for you, your family, and your friends.
Tip # 1 – Don’t Be Alarmed if Your Attorney Doesn’t Mention It
Helping clients – not hurting them – is at the heart of every immigration lawyer’s mission. Registering does NOT grant legal status and may result in the noncitizen being detained and placed in removal proceedings. Thus, because registering doesn’t help a noncitizen, we respect our clients’ decision NOT to register. We do not advise persons not to register (failure to register may result in civil and criminal penalties).
Tip #2 – Know if You are Not Required to Register
The following noncitizens have no obligation to register:
- Lawful permanent residents
- People paroled under INA §212(d)(5), even if the period of parole has expired
- Nonimmigrants issued Form I-94 or Form I-94W (paper or electronic), even if the period of admission has expired
- Noncitizens issued immigrant or nonimmigrant visas before their last date of arrival in the U.S.
- People in removal (deportation) proceedings
- People granted permission to depart
- People with an employment authorization document (work permit)
- Visa holders who have been already registered and fingerprinted through their application for a visa
- Noncitizens in U.S. for less than 30 days
- American Indians born in Canada who possess at least 50% blood of the American Indian race who are present in the US under the authority of 8 USC §1359
- Individuals 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.
Tip 3 – Know if You are Required to Register
Noncitizens who entered at ports of entry but did not receive Form I-94, noncitizens who applied for deferred action or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) who were not issued evidence
of registration, and undocumented persons who have “not been encountered” by immigration authorities need to register. Some children who turn 14 years old are also required to register but their compliance is the responsibility falls on guardians or parents.
If you or someone you know needs to find a safe haven in the United States, Call 954.385.0157 or Click “For Future Clients” to schedule a chat with our asylum immigration experts.
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All team members speak Spanish.
Disclaimer – These entries are based on real life events. Family member names, when used, are real. Client names are changed for privacy.
