No matter where we were born or what language we speak at home, most of us work hard to care for our families and leave our communities better for the next generation. Right now, we’re seeing the federal government try to tear our communities apart by targeting immigrants and their families.
The Trump administration announced on February 25, 2025 that it would require some undocumented immigrants to register with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This rule took effect as of April 11, 2025 and has not been paused by lawsuits.
The Trump administration is using the 1940 Alien Registration Act to require non-citizens register with the federal government. This act has been used to persecute people for decades. It was used by the US government to target union leaders in the 1940s, immigrants from Muslim majority countries after September 11, and laid the groundwork to detain thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II. Now the Trump administration is using it to terrorize undocumented people and mixed status families.
We will continue to fight this rule in the streets and in the courts. Do you want to use your power to fight with us? Join our Immigrant Justice Team today.
However, we also know there are a lot of unknowns about how this registration requirement will impact immigrants. We’ve compiled answers to some of the most common questions below.
Please note: this is not legal advice. We strongly recommend consulting an immigration lawyer to learn about the risks of registering.
Who is the government telling to register?
All noncitizens over the age of 14 who remain in the US for 30 days or longer are required to register themselves. For children under 14, parents are required to register them.
However, many folks are already considered registered by the government.
Who is already registered?
- Lawful permanent residents (aka green card holders)
- DACA recipients
- TPS recipients
- People granted asylum
- People who hold work permits, even if it they are expired.
- Travelers who have been issued I-94 documents or a border crossing card
- Immigrants in removal proceedings
- Immigrants with pending immigration applications or with denied applications
How do you register?
The government created a new form, G-325R. This form can only be accessed and submitted online. The form is only in English. You must create an online account with USCIS using an email address to submit the form.
Following your registration, you will be required to be fingerprinted and photographed.
There is no fee at this time.
If you are already registered, you do not need to complete this form.
What information does the form collect?
- Name
- Mailing and physical addresses for the past five years.
- Date of birth
- Country of birth
- Country of citizenship or nationality
- Immigration history
- “Activities” you’ve done in the US and “activities” you plan to do in the future
- Biographic information (gender, ethnicity, race, height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Arrest and conviction history
- Family biographic information
If I register with the new form, will I have permission to stay in the US?
No. Registration does not grant you permission to stay in the US. Once you register, the government will know where you are. DHS has said they will take steps to deport you.
What are the risks?
Both cases – registering and failing to register – carry significant risk for undocumented immigrants. You should consult with a trusted lawyer to talk about your case.
If you do not register: DHS can use your failure to register as a negative factor in your immigration case if you apply for a change of status. Additionally, the government can charge you with a misdemeanor crime if you purposefully fail to register, which can result in a fine and up to 6 months of imprisonment.
If you do register: The federal government has said that they will use this information to find and arrest immigrants with the goal of deporting them.
Resources
The following links are from trusted immigration legal and advocacy groups. They contain more information about registration and the risks that come with it.
We will continue to add additional resources as they become available.
Be Aware of Scams
Only licensed attorneys, US Department of Justice Accredited Representatives, and law students working with licensed attorneys may give legal advice. (Find more information on our Know Your Rights Page about how to find legal representation.)
Notarios, notary publics, travel agents, tax preparers, immigration consultants and other similarly titled people are NOT allowed to provide legal advice or prepare forms.
If you do not understand the form or what is in it, make sure you use a translator or interpreter. If you do not have an interpreter, ask your legal counsel to provide one. Interpreters may only translate what you state the answers to a form should be into English. They may not give legal advice or prepare forms. Anyone helping you to prepare your form must sign the form as a preparer. Interpreters must also sign.
Anyone who guarantees faster processing or a positive outcome by USCIS if you pay them a fee may be trying to scam you.
Find more information on the Stop Notario Fraud website and Avoid Scams | USCIS.