Number: RL31570
Title: Immigration: Alien Registration
Authors: Andorra Bruno, Domestic Social Policy Division 
Abstract: The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks called attention to the fact that the U.S. government is unaware of the addresses and whereabouts of many foreign nationals in the United States. In the aftermath of the attacks, Congress sought to improve the tracking of one subgroup of foreign nationals: temporary legal residents. To better track these temporary residents, also known as nonimmigrants, the 107th Congress revived efforts to implement an entry-exit control system and a system for monitoring foreign students. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security is using the registration provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act to track foreign nationals in the United States. As detailed in this report, that act requires that most aliens in the United States for 30 days or longer be registered and notify the Attorney General of each change of address. The alien registration issue has also been considered to a limited extent in the 107th and 108th Congresses.
Pages: 13
Date: Updated January 6, 2004