The Trump administration has issued a sweeping directive requiring all foreign nationals residing in the United States for more than 30 days to register with the federal government or face steep penalties, including fines, imprisonment, deportation, and a permanent ban from re-entering the country.
In a widely shared social media post, the Department of Homeland Security warned: “Foreign nationals present in the U.S. longer than 30 days must register with the federal government. Failure to comply is a crime punishable by fines and imprisonment. @POTUS Trump and @Sec_Noem have a clear message to illegal aliens: LEAVE NOW and self-deport.”
The move follows Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, signed by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025. The order instructs the Department of Homeland Security to enforce section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which mandates that all foreign nationals in the U.S. for over 30 days must register and provide biometric data. Failure to comply is now being treated as a civil and criminal enforcement priority.
Under the INA, all foreign nationals aged 14 or older who were not registered and fingerprinted when applying for a visa must register within 30 days of arrival. Parents or guardians are responsible for registering minors under 14. Once a minor turns 14, they must re-register and submit fingerprints, even if they were previously recorded.
Upon registration and fingerprinting, DHS will issue proof of registration, which must be carried at all times by individuals aged 18 and older. The penalties for non-compliance include fines up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to 30 days, immediate deportation, and a permanent re-entry ban. In some cases, additional fines may apply, including $998 per day for ignoring final orders of removal.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem reminded all foreign nationals present in the United Stated longer than 30 days that the deadline to register under the Alien Registration Act is coming up on April 11.
“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.”
Secretary Noem added in a statement:
“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.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the new regulation as essential to national security and public safety, stating that the Trump administration is committed to enforcing all immigration laws without exception.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 11, 2025
BOOM! Karoline Leavitt says ALL foreign nationals in the US longer than 30 days must register with the government, or they may be IMPRISONED and/or deported!
"If not, you will be arrested, fined, deported, never to return to our country again."pic.twitter.com/HRbxQuG5Jj
The Department of Homeland Security is also encouraging self-deportation, highlighting that individuals who leave voluntarily may retain earnings made in the U.S. and keep future pathways to legal immigration open. The department added that those unable to afford travel might qualify for subsidised departure assistance.
To facilitate compliance, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced a new online form, G-325R, Biometric Information (Registration), allowing foreign nationals to fulfil their legal obligations under the INA. DHS clarified that registration is not an immigration status, nor does it confer employment rights or any benefits under U.S. law.
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