New Online Registration Requirements For Foreign Nationals

On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14159 "Protecting the American People Against Invasion," directing the Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") to ensure that foreign nationals comply with their duty to register with the government under section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ("INA"), and providing that failure to comply with the registration requirement is treated as a civil and criminal enforcement priority.

Under the INA, all foreign nationals 14 years of age or older who were not registered and fingerprinted (if required) when applying for a visa to enter the United States and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer, must apply for registration and fingerprinting. The INA also authorizes and directs the DHS to prepare forms for the registration and fingerprinting of foreign nationals. The Executive Order calls for renewed enforcement of these existing requirements.