America’s Forced Registries and Xenophobia
On April 11, 2025, the Trump Administration’s efforts to require undocumented immigrants to “register” with the federal government took effect. Based on antiquated law from the 1940s, the registration requirement poses a clear dilemma to undocumented individuals: register and face deportation, or fail to register and face additional criminalization.
Forced Registration and Anti-Immigration Policy
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was the first major law to restrict immigration to the United States based on race, targeting Chinese laborers who built the nation’s railroads. The law banned immigration from China and required Chinese people in the United States—including those born in the country—to register. The U.S. Government then restricted people’s travel and ability to become U.S. citizens.
Across its history, the United States has used forced registration to target, discriminate against, and deport foreign nationals. Forced registration played an important role in enabling the internment of people of Japanese descent during World War II. Registration also targeted immigrants from Muslim majority countries in the wake of September 11, 2001.
Trump’s Registration Requirement
The Trump Administration is now using a World War II-era law to try to make immigrant families register with immigration officials by providing their personal information, including their addresses. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has said that the goal of registration is to find and deport undocumented immigrants who register, or pressure them to leave the U.S. on their own. DHS has also threatened that people who don’t register could face criminal charges and has suggested that families leave the United States on their own to avoid being deported or prosecuted.
The intent of this registration requirement is clear: the administration wants to find, arrest, and deport as many immigrants as possible, or frighten them into choosing to leave their lives behind. This blanket rule targets and attempts to criminalize millions of hardworking, longstanding members of our communities.
The Dangers of Registration
The registration rule has not been stopped by litigation and is in effect as of April 11, 2025. Signing up to register could lead to detention, deportation, and possibly criminal prosecution, according to statements by the Trump Administration. Government officials have said clearly that they plan to use the information they get from registration to find and arrest people, deport them, or pressure them to leave the United States on their own.
More than 186,000 Oregonians—including more than 71,000 children—live with at least one undocumented family member. These mixed status families face the highest risk of family separation during anti-immigrant crackdowns like forced registration. Ultimately, 1 in 12 children in Oregon could face the traumatic experience of separation because of increased efforts to deport undocumented family members. The effects of separation are devastating to the well-being of children, including high rates of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and suicidal ideation.
Community members with questions about registration and how it might impact them should consult trusted immigration lawyers, inform themselves about their rights, and monitor trusted sources of information.
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Please note that this information is general guidance and not legal advice. For legal advice, request a consultation from ICS or speak to an immigration attorney today.