Washington, April 12
In a sweeping move that has ignited concern among immigrant communities across the United States, the White House has announced that all foreign nationals residing in the country for over 30 days must register with the federal government or face strict penalties, including fines, imprisonment, and deportation.
"All foreign nationals present in the United States longer than 30 days must register with the federal government. Failure to comply with this is a crime punishable by fines, imprisonment, or both," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
"If not, you will be arrested, fined, deported, never to return to our country again," she added.
She also mentioned that the deadline to register under the Alien Registration Act was on April 11 (local time).
The directive, rooted in the decades-old Alien Registration Act from World War II, was given the green light after a ruling from US District Judge Trevor N. McFadden, a Trump appointee, who dismissed a legal challenge by advocacy groups.
The judge ruled that the plaintiffs lacked sufficient legal standing to block the rule's enforcement, clearing the way for the controversial regulation to take effect.