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Trump administration Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced plans to launch a registry for illegal immigrants, including fines or prison for those who refuse.
The registry will include children 14 and older to be fingerprinted and supply personal information, according to a memo reported in The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.
“Aliens in this country illegally face a choice,” Noem wrote in a memo, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. “They can return home and follow the legal process to come to the United States or they can deal with the consequences of continuing to violate our laws.”
The initiative is part of a broader effort by Trump to curb illegal immigration through mass deportations and stricter border security measures. Under the new policy, those who qualify but fail to register could face fines of up to $5,000 and a maximum prison sentence of six months.
The administration’s approach relies on immigration law provisions that have historically been difficult to enforce. Experts caution that prosecuting these cases could strain legal resources, increase prison populations and impose fines that many undocumented immigrants would be unable to pay.
Trump’s proposed registry would require undocumented individuals who have not previously engaged with the government—such as by applying for asylum or a work permit—to come forward. The administration plans to introduce a registration form and provide a 30-day window for completion once the system is in place.
An executive order issued by Trump on Inauguration Day directed the government to implement the registration process. The following day, the Department of Justice instructed U.S. attorneys’ offices to prioritize prosecuting cases involving immigrants who fail to comply with the new requirement.
Noem said Monday that arrests of illegal immigrants at the southern border fell to the lowest in 15 years last weekend. She shared the update in a post to X on Saturday, noting that “just 200 aliens” were encountered.
“On Saturday, CBP encountered just 200 aliens at the US Southern Border. That’s the lowest single apprehension day in over 15 years. Thank you to President @realDonaldTrump and our brave men & women of @CBP,” she wrote.
The news follows comments last week from White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller who celebrated a 95 percent reduction in illegal immigrants at the southern border on Thursday.