Homeland Security announces new registry for illegal migrants

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday announced the creation of a new registry in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that requires illegal migrants to register and be fingerprinted. 

The department said it will enforce the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act, and urged illegal migrants to deport themselves on their own before the United States gets involved. 

“President Trump and Secretary Noem have a clear message for those in our country illegally: leave now. If you leave now, you may have the opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream," DHS Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. 

“The Trump administration will enforce all our immigration laws—we will not pick and choose which laws we will enforce," she continued. "We must know who is in our country for the safety and security of our homeland and all Americans.”  

The act created tools to track the migrants in the country illegally, and include possible criminal penalties for illegal migrants who choose not to leave the U.S., fail to register with the federal government and be fingerprinted, and fail to notify the federal government of changes to their address.

The registry comes a week after Noem warned potential migrants against coming to the U.S. illegally.

"Let me be clear. If you come to our country, and you break our laws, we will hunt you down," she said at the time. "Criminals are not welcome in the United States. For too long, weak leadership has left our borders wide open, flooding our communities with drugs, human trafficking, and violent criminals. Well, those days are over."

Illegal migrants, who are at least 14 years old, can find out more about the registry here.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.