US enforces mandatory fingerprinting and registration for long-term visitors

In a major policy move, the United States has implemented a mandatory fingerprinting and registration rule for all foreign visitors planning to stay in the country for 30 days or longer.

The new requirement, which came into effect on April 11, is part of the Alien Registration framework overseen by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Under the directive, visitors aged 14 and above must undergo fingerprinting and complete the newly introduced Alien Registration Form provided by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The rule applies across the board, regardless of nationality or purpose of visit, as long as the individual plans to remain in the country beyond the 30-day threshold.

The roots of the policy trace back to the 1940 Alien Registration Act, which mandated federal registration for immigrants during World War II. This was later expanded by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of 1952. Section 262 of the INA now underpins the current registration mandate, which the government says is essential for national security and immigration control.

Although fingerprinting of foreign visitors has been a part of US policy for decades, enforcement has been sporadic. Experts and critics note that many of the INA's provisions stem from the Cold War era, originally designed for political monitoring and surveillance.

The Trump administration has taken a hardline stance on enforcement, warning of serious consequences for non-compliance. “You will be arrested, fined, deported, never to return to our country again,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, emphasising that violators may face fines, imprisonment, or both.