Wyden, Colleagues Slam Draconian Immigration Registration Order
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today joined Senate colleagues in a letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) opposing the Trump administration’s resurrection of a draconian and discriminatory immigration policy that forces immigrants to register with the federal government and carry proof of their registration at all times.
“The Administration has explicitly linked this revived registration requirement to enforcement efforts, empowering federal prosecutors to target immigrants who fail to comply. This creates a perilous dilemma for immigrants who entered the country without inspection and have had no prior contact with federal authorities,” the lawmakers wrote to USCIS senior official Kika Scott. “Those who register risk exposing themselves to removal proceedings, while those who refrain from registering face the threat of criminal prosecution. The policy further jeopardizes millions of immigrants—including those with lawful status—by subjecting them to penalties for simply failing to carry proof of registration.”
The lawmakers continued, “This registration policy echoes historical precedents that have been widely discredited and condemned. The Alien Registration Act of 1940 was initially implemented during World War II in a climate of fear and xenophobia, requiring noncitizens to register at post offices across the country. Now, by dusting off and weaponizing an outdated law, the Trump administration is reviving a dangerous precedent that will undermine fundamental civil liberties, disproportionately burden immigrant communities and millions of mixed-status families, and transform America into a ‘carry your papers’ country.”
The lawmakers request answers by April 8, 2025, to questions including:
- How does USCIS plan to implement this registration requirement, and what resources will be allocated to its implementation and enforcement?
- What mechanisms will be in place to ensure that individuals who register are not automatically placed in removal proceedings or expedited removal?
- What safeguards exist to prevent racial profiling and discriminatory enforcement practices in the application of this law?
- Who will have access to any registration database and for what purposes?
The letter was led by U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey, D-Mass. In addition to Wyden, the letter was signed by Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Senators Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
The full text of the letter is here.
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