WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a time where trust in the federal government among immigrant communities is at an all time low, on February 25, 2025, through a memo from the Department of Homeland Security, the Trump administration announced it would be requiring most immigrants over the age of fourteen to register with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) with fingerprints and addresses. Currently, there is no registration process, though the USCIS website indicates that more information will be available soon.

The National Partnership for New Americans, a coalition of 86 of the nation’s largest immigrant and refugee rights organizations with reach across over 42 states, urges everyone in our communities to consult with a trusted legal representative before creating an account or submitting forms or information. You can find a legal advisor in your community at readytostay.org, a platform that provides immigrants and advocates with the latest information on immigration laws and trusted legal service providers. 

Said Nicole Melaku, NPNA executive director, “The Trump administration’s creation of this registration effort reminds us of the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEEERS), which was created after September 11, 2001, requiring men of Muslim-majority countries to register with the government. Through government-sanctioned racial profiling, thousands were deported and separated from their families due to a misguided, fearful, and hateful rationale. The lingering effects of Islamophobia remain prevalent because of shameful policies like NSEEERS today. And, today’s descendants of Japanese Americans, who were interned in detention camps during World War II, can tell you about their parents or grandparents who suffered exile and humiliation because of fear-mongering policies. We call on members of Congress—across both aisles—to denounce the ‘recycling’ of pernicious programs that criminalize individuals and violate human rights. Trump’s attempt to reconstitute several of the most painful chapters in American history will fail. The immigrant community knows all too well the goals of increased enforcement under Trump and will be even more fearful to come forward.  We encourage all immigrants to seek advice from legal counsel as USCIS releases further details on this process. 

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The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) is a multi-ethnic, multiracial coalition of 86 of the nation’s largest immigrant and refugee rights organizations with reach across over 42 states. Together with our members, we advance immigrant and refugee equity and inclusion, build and expand immigration legal services and integration programming capacity, and drive campaigns that strengthen democracy through increased civic participation. See our website for more information at partnershipfornewamericans.org.