The Trump administration announced plans to require undocumented immigrants aged 14 and older to register with the U.S. government, providing their fingerprints and facing potential criminal prosecution for non-compliance. This initiative aimed to encourage self-deportation by creating a more hostile environment. Critics argued the plan was unlikely to succeed, given fears of deportation and the government's inability to locate many undocumented individuals. The administration invoked an existing, but largely unenforced, pre-World War II law requiring registration. The policy did not apply to green card holders, those in deportation proceedings, or visa holders, but mandated parents register their undocumented children under 14. This registration effort reflected a broader strategy to utilize every available tool to compel undocumented immigrants to leave the United States.
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