Alien registration mandate (Form G-325R)

Status: In effect now — Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (a/k/a CHIRLA v. Noem) — alien registration / Form G-325R interim final rule (D.D.C. 1:25-cv-00943-TNM; D.C. Cir. 25-5152 (consolidated with 25-5233 and 25-5247))

Registration mandate in effect nationwide; no court has blocked it. D.C. Circuit appeal argued Dec 18, 2025, awaiting a merits decision.

Next step: D.C. Circuit merits ruling on the consolidated appeal (Nos. 25-5152/25-5233/25-5247), argued Dec 18, 2025 — pending as of June 26, 2026.

Verified against the primary source as of 2026-07-25 — status can change with a single court ruling. Official source.

What’s happening

Registration mandate in effect nationwide; no court has blocked it. D.C. Circuit appeal argued Dec 18, 2025, awaiting a merits decision.

Who it affects

Affects noncitizens already physically present in the United States who are age 14 or older and were not previously registered or fingerprinted — for example, people who entered without inspection, certain parolees and applicants without a registration document, and Canadian visitors staying 30+ days — who under the interim final rule must file Form G-325R, submit biometrics, and carry proof of registration, with criminal penalties for willful failure to register or to carry proof. People already documented as registered (most lawful permanent residents, EAD holders, those issued an I-94 or placed in removal proceedings, and many DACA/TPS recipients with the right documents) are generally treated as already registered.

How it got here

  1. Mar 12, 2025 DHS publishes interim final rule 'Alien Registration Form and Evidence of Registration' (90 FR 11793), designating new USCIS Form G-325R and reviving the INA Sec. 262 registration requirement; effective April 11, 2025.
  2. Apr 10, 2025 District court (Judge McFadden) denies plaintiffs' motion to stay / preliminarily enjoin the IFR, finding plaintiffs failed to show standing/likelihood of success.
  3. Apr 11, 2025 Interim final rule takes effect; registration mandate and Form G-325R become operative nationwide.
  4. Aug 12, 2025 D.C. Circuit per curiam order (Henderson, Wilkins, Garcia) denies a stay/injunction pending appeal, refers the government's motion to dismiss to the merits panel, expedites the appeal, and sets a briefing schedule.
  5. Dec 18, 2025 Oral argument held before the D.C. Circuit merits panel in the consolidated alien-registration appeal.

What to watch next

D.C. Circuit merits ruling on the consolidated appeal (Nos. 25-5152/25-5233/25-5247), argued Dec 18, 2025 — pending as of June 26, 2026.

Official sources

This page is general information about ongoing litigation, not legal advice. A case’s status can change with a single ruling, and outcomes can turn on facts specific to each person. For advice on a specific situation, consult a licensed immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative.