1 week Ago By Tony Shin
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Undocumented immigrants in the United States must register with the Department of Homeland Security and carry documentation of that registration at all times, following a ruling by a federal judge in support of the Trump administration.The ruling allows the federal government to issue fines of up to $5,000 and impose potential prison sentences for individuals who fail to comply. The decision affects millions of undocumented immigrants nationwide.
4 student visas at San Diego State University revokedOutside Catholic Charities Refugee and Immigrant Services, an East County resident who goes by “Junior” waited patiently for the office to open so his fiancée — the mother of their six-month-old child — could renew her green card.Junior said, for more than a decade, his fiancée has been following every legal requirement to become a U.S.
citizen. “It would be harder on me if anything were to happen — if she got deported," he said.Junior requested that his fiancée’s face not be shown due to concerns about what he described as the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies.
The requirement to register comes from the Alien Registration Act of 1940, a wartime law implemented during World War II and used sparingly since — most recently in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. Under the new enforcement, undocumented immigrants age 14 and older must register, provide fingerprints, and carry proof of registration.
“I feel like it’s pretty much like if we were in Nazi Germany,” Junior said. “Like, if we had to wear a Star of David or something so they could visually see if we’re documented or not.”Renata Castro, co-founder of the immigration law firm USA 4 All, said the court’s decision may not be the final word on the policy.
“Even though the courts allow the government to go forward with the registration, it does not mean the judicial fight is over,” Castro said.She urged undocumented immigrants to follow the law and consult legal experts.“The rule of thumb is: if there is a law and you are in the country without status, you should follow the law,” she said.
“Before making any decision, you should consult with a licensed immigration attorney.”Junior called the policy another legal obstacle for immigrants like his fiancée.“A lot of people come to America for the American dream,” he said.
“And they keep making it harder and harder for working-class citizens to achieve those dreams.”.
