Stephen Miller Sounds Alarm on Alien Registration Act Enforcement
In a move that has sent ripples through the immigrant community, Stephen Miller, the White House’s deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security advisor, announced that the United States will be enforcing the long-dormant Alien Registration Act. This means that non-citizens who fail to register with the government may face criminal prosecution.
For context, the Alien Registration Act, which has been gathering dust for the past 75 years, mandates that all non-citizens register with the government, provide their fingerprints, and disclose their residential addresses. This law, originally passed in 1940 amidst fears regarding immigrants’ loyalty, has now been resurrected, much to the surprise (and perhaps dismay) of many.
Miller confirmed this enforcement in a post on X, referencing a Politico article titled “Federal prosecutors now charging immigrants who don’t submit fingerprints under dormant 1940s law.”
Illegals who fail to register with the government, as required by law, will be criminally prosecuted. https://t.co/JgPgTRxZBr
— Stephen Miller (@StephenM) June 14, 2025
According to Politico:
Since April, law enforcement agencies in states like Louisiana, Arizona, Montana, Alabama, Texas, and even Washington, D.C., have begun charging individuals with willful “failure to register” under the Alien Registration Act. This legal charge is so rare that many federal public defenders are encountering it for the first time. Many individuals facing these charges were already in custody and undergoing deportation proceedings when the new charges were introduced.
The registration requirement, which lay dormant since its inception, qualifies as a “petty offense”—a misdemeanor that could lead to a maximum of six months in jail or a fine of up to $1,000.
The revival of this law places undocumented immigrants in a precarious situation. On one hand, registering would necessitate providing detailed, potentially incriminating information to the government, including their entry details into the country. On the other hand, failing to register is also a crime, carrying penalties that could include arrest and deportation—a delightful catch-22, if you will.
Interestingly, there exists a third, albeit grim, option: a push for self-deportation, incentivizing undocumented individuals to voluntarily leave the country.
The Department of Homeland Security had previously announced the impending enforcement of this law back in February, stating:
“An alien’s failure to depart the U.S. is a crime that could result in significant financial penalties. An alien’s failure to register is also a crime that could lead to fines, imprisonment, or both. For decades, this law has been ignored—not anymore.” The DHS further suggested that encouraging mass self-deportation would be a more efficient and safer approach for both migrants and law enforcement, ultimately saving taxpayer dollars and conserving resources crucial for the operations of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin asserted, “President Trump and Secretary Noem have a clear message for those in our country illegally: leave now. If you leave now, you may have the opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream.”
As the Trump administration reinforces its immigration laws, they emphasize the need for accountability regarding who is present in the country, positioning this renewed enforcement as vital for national safety and security.
