Trump Set 30-Day Deadline for Immigrants to Leave or Face Deportation and Imprisonment

The US Department of Homeland Security has issued a new warning for foreign nationals staying in the country for more than 30 days, saying they must register with the federal government or face legal action, which may include fines and imprisonment.

This came after Homeland Security Kristi Noem recently called on all foreign nationals present in the country for more than 30 days to register under the ‘Alien Registration Act by April 11. This is part of Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown and could have far-reaching implications for immigrants throughout the US.

“Foreign nationals present in the US longer than 30 days must register with the federal government. Failure to comply is a crime punishable by fines and imprisonment. @POTUS Trump and @Sec_Noem have a clear message to Illegal aliens: LEAVE NOW and self-deport,” said the Homeland Security Department on X.

This development comes after Trump signed the executive order ‘Protecting the American People Against Invasion,’ directing DHS to enforce the ‘long-ignored’ Alien Registration Act on January 20. Later, DHS and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) introduced the registration requirement as an interim final rule on March 12.

What Are The Punishments For Non-Compliance?

The Department of Homeland Security emphasised that self-deportation is safe and people can leave on their own terms by picking their departure flight. Self-deportation also keeps open the opportunity for legal immigration in the future and deportees will also be eligible for a subsidised flight if they cannot afford to leave.

However, failure to comply with the rules will invite harsher consequences – such as immediate deportation. In this case, people who fail to comply with the rules will be apprehended by Homeland Security without any opportunity to get their affairs in order.

As per Trump’s recent order, these immigrants will be fined $998 per day if they receive a final order of removal and decide to stay anyway. Failure to self-deport after claiming to do so will also invite a fine of $1,000-$5,000. Immigrants may also be subject to jail time. Most importantly, these people would be prohibited from re-entering the US through the legal immigration system.

The Department of Homeland Security has created an app called CBP Home for those people to deport themselves and is notifying them they must leave right away. The Trump administration touts its sweeping drive against migrants — a key campaign promise — as being in part a crackdown on gang members and other violent criminals.

“President Trump and I 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 your freedom and live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested, fined, deported, never to return to our country again,” Noem said during a press briefing on Friday.

Recently, a US district court judge also approved the Trump administration to implement the controversial new rule mandating millions of immigrants to register with the federal government and carry official documentation.