Noncitizen Registration

Noncitizen registration is the process of forcing immigrants to provide immigration officials with personal information, including their addresses, under a federal law passed in 1940. Under the law, noncitizens over the age of 14 who stay in the U.S. for more than 30 days must register with the federal government, but the law was not typically enforced.

However, in January 2025, the current government issued an executive order to enforce the law and issued regulations to set up registration procedures. The regulation went into effect on April 11, 2025.

Many noncitizens are already considered to be “registered,” including:

• Anyone who came to a U.S. on a visa or parole
• Anyone who has filed certain forms or received certain benefits (including a work permit)
• Anyone who is already in deportation proceedings

• Anyone who entered the U.S. without going through immigration inspection AND who has had no other interactions with immigration authorities OR has not submitted certain forms to the Department of Homeland Security

• People who have applied for DACA, Temporary Protected Status, and certain other benefits who do NOT have work permits are NOT considered registered.

People who want to register need to:

• Set up an online account with U.S. Citizenship and immigration Services (USCIS)
• Complete form G-325R online
• Report for an appointment for fingerprinting at a USCIS application support center (This part of the process might involve a fee)

The following documents work as proof of registration:

• I-94 Arrival-Departure Record 
• I-485 Application for Permanent Resident Receipt Notice  
• I-590 Registration for Refugee Status 
• Green Card (I-551) 
• Employment Authorization Document (EAD) (I-766) 
• Notice to Appear (I-862) 
• Border Crossing Card (I-185, I-186) 

Noncitizens 18 years and older are required to carry these documents with them at all times.

Anyone who registers is providing their name, address, fingerprints, and other information to DHS. The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) said: “Coming forward to register will be extremely dangerous for most undocumented community members. It could lead to detention, deportation, and possibly criminal prosecution.” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in February in a White House ad: “President Trump has a clear message: if you are here illegally, we will find you and deport you.”

The government has also threatened consequences for people who are instructed to register but don’t, including criminal and immigration penalties.

Failure to comply with the registration requirements can lead to the following penalties:

• Criminal consequences: The government has threatened to bring criminal charges against people who are instructed to register but do not do so, and the Trump administration has told its federal prosecutors to make these charges a priority. This could mean that any contact with law enforcement, including ICE or local police, could lead to criminal charges for failing to register in addition to immigration detention and possible deportation. Specifically, the government is threatening to prosecute people with a few different charges connected to the registration requirement, all federal misdemeanor offenses:
  • Willful failure to register: up to $5,000 fine, up to 6 months in jail
  • Knowingly including false information in registration: up to $1,000 fine, up to 6 months in jail
  • Not carrying proof of registration: up to $5,000 fine, up to 30 days in jail
  • Not updating your address within 10 days: up to $200 fine, up to 30 days in jail
• There is also a separate criminal offense and deportation ground for registering using false statements.
• Immigration consequences: Most immigration benefits or visas are “discretionary,” meaning the government can use someone’s past negative action to deny them the immigration benefit or visa. If you do not register and later apply for an immigration benefit or visa, the government might deny that benefit or visa for failing to register.

Several organizations sued to block the government from enforcing the registration requirement.  The organizations were not able to win a court order stopping the requirement from taking effect, but they can still win a ruling that can stop the requirement.

NAKASEC has a 24/7 hotline available in English and Korean for immigration emergencies: 1-844-500-3222.

Download our Know Your Rights app for Apple and Google devices. With information about your Constitutionally-protected rights in 20+ languages, the app can also read your rights aloud in English to an officer and will continue to play even when your phone is locked.

For more detailed information, visit the National Immigration Law Center’s website at www.nilc.org.

• You have the right to remain silent and not answer question.
• You have the right to talk to an attorney
• You have the right NOT to sign or fill out any forms