The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is likely to ramp up enforcement of registration requirements for foreign nationals that remain in the United States for more than 30 days. Earlier this month, DHS issued a press release reminding all foreign nationals in the United States longer than 30 days that their deadline to comply with registration requirements is on April 11, 2025. Many foreign nationals in the United States legally are already registered and do not need to take any action to comply with the requirements. However, some foreign visitors who are in the country legally may not be registered (e.g., Canadian visitors who entered the United States through land border crossings), and if they remain in the United States longer than 30 days, will need to register with the Department as soon as possible. A detailed break down of those who are already registered, and those who may need to register, is available on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website at https://www.uscis.gov/alienregistration.
The willful failure to comply with registration requirements is a misdemeanor under federal law (8 U.S.C. § 1306), punishable by a maximum fine of $1,000 and six months imprisonment.
It is important to know that everyone in the United States, regardless of immigration status, has constitutional rights when interacting with law enforcement, including ICE officers. During any encounter, you have the right to remain silent and to not answer any questions without an attorney present. The only information you should provide is your name and date of birth (if asked). If you are pulled over during a traffic stop, provide license, registration, and insurance as requested. Do not argue or fight with the officer – remain calm and ask to speak with an attorney before answering any more questions.