A federal judge on Thursday cleared the way for the Trump administration to implement a controversial policy requiring all individuals in the U.S. without legal status to register with the federal government and carry official documentation. The measure, which goes into effect Friday, could impact millions of undocumented immigrants nationwide.
U.S. District Judge Trevor Neil McFadden, a Trump appointee, ruled that the advocacy groups challenging the policy lacked legal standing, allowing the administration to proceed. The ruling did not address the broader legal questions raised but focused narrowly on procedural grounds.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) emphasized that individuals who have been in the country for more than 30 days must register by Friday or risk penalties. Going forward, the policy will be strictly enforced, officials said.
“President Trump and I have a clear message for those in our country illegally: leave now,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in a statement. “We will enforce all our immigration laws. We must know who is in our country for the safety and security of all Americans.”
Under the new directive, individuals aged 14 and older without legal status must register, provide fingerprints, and submit their current address. Parents or guardians are responsible for registering children under 14. Registrants will also be required to carry documentation at all times or face potential fines or imprisonment.
The rule also extends to Canadians who remain in the U.S. for more than 30 days, including seasonal visitors known as “snowbirds.”
While federal law has long included provisions for registration of noncitizens, enforcement has historically been inconsistent. The last major use of such a registration system came after the September 11 attacks, through the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System. That program, which targeted males from 25 predominantly Arab or Muslim countries, was widely criticized and eventually suspended in 2011 and formally ended in 2016.
The Trump administration argues that the registration requirement is not new, but rather a reinstatement of long-standing laws under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952.
Opponents, including the National Immigration Law Center, argue the administration is circumventing required public input processes and using the policy as a tool for mass deportation.
“This disappointing ruling unfortunately means that, for now, Trump’s scheme to force people into an impossible choice moves forward,” said Nicholas Espíritu, the center’s deputy legal director. “We urge affected community members to consult with an immigration attorney to understand the consequences of registering or not.”
Critics warn that the policy places undocumented immigrants—many of whom have lived in the U.S. for years, contributing to the economy and building families—in a difficult position: register and risk exposure to enforcement, or remain hidden and face criminal penalties.
According to DHS estimates, between 2.2 million and 3.2 million people could be affected by the new requirement. Individuals required to register must do so through an account created on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.
