Washington (March 25, 2025) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) led eight colleagues in writing today to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) senior official Kika Scott to express strong disapproval of the Trump administration’s resurrection of one of the country’s most draconian and discriminatory immigration policies: forcing immigrants to register with the federal government and carry proof of their registration at all times.
The letter was signed by Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
In the letter, the lawmakers write, “The Administration has explicitly linked this revived registration requirement to enforcement efforts, empowering federal prosecutors to target immigrants who fail to comply. This creates a perilous dilemma for immigrants who entered the country without inspection and have had no prior contact with federal authorities. Those who register risk exposing themselves to removal proceedings, while those who refrain from registering face the threat of criminal prosecution. The policy further jeopardizes millions of immigrants—including those with lawful status—by subjecting them to penalties for simply failing to carry proof of registration.”
The lawmakers continue, “This registration policy echoes historical precedents that have been widely discredited and condemned. The Alien Registration Act of 1940 was initially implemented during World War II in a climate of fear and xenophobia, requiring noncitizens to register at post offices across the country. Now, by dusting off and weaponizing an outdated law, the Trump administration is reviving a dangerous precedent that will undermine fundamental civil liberties, disproportionately burden immigrant communities and millions of mixed-status families, and transform America into a ‘carry your papers’ country.”
The lawmakers request answers by April 8, 2025 to questions including:
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