The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), an umbrella coverage and advocacy group representing greater than 200 immigrant and refugee rights teams all through New York, has warned that the Trump administration’s Government Order on nationwide registration will drive Caribbean and different immigrants into the shadow.
America Citizenship and Immigration Providers (USCIS) has introduced that the majority people over 14 years previous residing in the US with out immigration standing might want to register with USCIS – in the event that they aren’t already registered with them – and supply their fingerprints and tackle.
NYIC mentioned on Tuesday that people would want to hold proof of this registration.
It mentioned that not registering or failing to hold proof of registration could be a prison offense that might result in detention and deportation.
“At a time when belief within the federal authorities is plummeting amongst immigrant communities, the Trump administration is planning to acquire thousands and thousands of individuals’s private data and requiring them to hold papers,” NYIC’s President and CEO Murad Awawdeh instructed Caribbean Life.
“Trump’s registry will create the circumstances for mass roundups and racial profiling of each residents and noncitizens,” he warned. “We need to be clear to group members which can be apprehensive about Trump’s registry: as of now, this registry doesn’t exist. This is a growing state of affairs, and we urge individuals to seek the advice of with a trusted authorized consultant earlier than creating an account with the USCIS or submitting any kinds or data.
“The Trump registry is one other instance of this administration taking unclear actions in hopes of making concern and uncertainty in our communities,” Awawdeh added. “But when and when this program is unveiled, there will probably be a heightened menace of prison prosecution for failure to register or failure to hold proof of registration, giving Trump one other instrument for mass deportations and detentions with no pathway to lawful standing.
“This can damage public security for all of us, as individuals will probably be pressured additional into the shadows and belief for public establishments will erode,” he continued.
USCIS famous that, on Jan. 20, 2025, President Trump issued the Defending the American Individuals Towards Invasion govt order, which directed the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) to make sure that immigrants adjust to their responsibility to register with the federal government below part 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. 1302), and be certain that “failure to conform is handled as a civil and prison enforcement precedence.”
USCIS mentioned the INA requires that, with restricted exceptions, all immigrants 14 years or older who weren’t fingerprinted or registered when making use of for a US visa and who stay in the US for 30 days or longer should apply for registration and fingerprinting.
Equally, USCIS mentioned mother and father and guardians should guarantee their youngsters under 14 are registered.
“Inside 30 days of reaching his or her 14th birthday, the beforehand registered alien (immigrant) little one should apply for re-registration and to be fingerprinted,” USCIS mentioned.
It mentioned that when an immigrant has registered and appeared for fingerprinting (until waived), USCIS mentioned DHS will situation proof of registration, which immigrants over 18 should carry and preserve always.
“It’s the authorized obligation of all unregistered aliens (or beforehand registered youngsters who flip 14 years previous) in the US to adjust to these necessities,” USCIS mentioned. “Failure to conform will lead to prison and civil penalties, as much as and together with misdemeanor prosecution and the cost of fines.”
USCIS mentioned that whereas most immigrants in the US have already registered, as required by regulation, “a big variety of aliens current in the US have had no direct means by which to register and meet their obligation below INA 262.”
USCIS is establishing a brand new registration type and course of in order that unregistered immigrants could adjust to their responsibility below INA 262.
“No alien can have an excuse for failure to adjust to this regulation,” it mentioned. “Registration just isn’t an immigration standing, and registration documentation doesn’t set up employment authorization or another proper or profit below the INA or another US regulation.”
NYIC additionally warned that, in keeping with experiences, some healthcare suppliers in New York Metropolis are denying care to people who don’t show they’re residents or have social safety numbers.
Awawdeh mentioned Federally Certified Well being Facilities are mandated to supply healthcare to underserved communities, no matter their capacity to pay, “which regularly serves as a security internet for under-documented and mixed-status households.”
He mentioned that final week, Trump issued “a imprecise and legally obtuse govt order aimed to restrict undocumented immigrants’ entry to social providers and different authorities help.
“This govt order is one other try and instill concern in service suppliers and immigrant communities alike, and designed to discourage immigrant households from accessing the important providers they want,” Awawdeh mentioned. “All New Yorkers, no matter their immigration standing, deserve entry to medical providers when they’re in want. Entry to healthcare just isn’t solely morally right, it’s important to strengthening our public well being.
“Nevertheless, with each half-baked Government Order from the Trump administration, the rights of people and communities across the nation are being impeded upon,” he added. “Federally-funded healthcare packages have a mission to advertise wholesome communities and wholesome little one growth by serving each resident.
“Excluding sure individuals from this care will damage each New Yorker and create a chilling impact for suppliers and recipients alike,” he continued.
“Allow us to be clear to all healthcare suppliers working in New York State: you should deal with each one who wants care,” Awawdeh mentioned. “Any ‘healthcare’ establishment that turns its backs on its mission to look after all has made the improper selection, however it’s not too late to right this error and fulfill its mandate to serve the individuals of New York Metropolis.”
