By Newspot Nigeria Global Desk
A 60-year-old Chicago resident, Rueben Antonio Cruz, has become one of the first victims of a revived immigration law requiring non-U.S. citizens to carry their registration documents at all times. Cruz, a lawful permanent resident originally from El Salvador, was fined $130 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after failing to present his identification when stopped in Chicago.
According to reports from NBC Chicago and the Chicago Tribune, Cruz’s encounter with ICE did not lead to arrest or detention but reignited debate over a long-dormant federal rule that the Trump administration has brought back to life.
🚨 Dormant Law, Now Revived
The law in question, Section 264 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), was enacted in 1940 and mandates that all non-U.S. citizens aged 18 and above carry proof of registration—typically a Green Card or Alien Registration Card—at all times.
While the provision has existed for decades, it was rarely enforced until recently. Legal analysts say this sudden enforcement forms part of President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14159, signed in January 2025, which directs federal agencies to “faithfully execute” all immigration laws, including dormant ones.
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council noted on X (formerly Twitter) that this is the second such case in recent weeks. “It’s a law that’s been on the books for generations but virtually never used. Now Trump’s brought it back,” he said, adding that Cruz’s case was “a very literal ‘show me your papers’ arrest.”
💼 Legal Implications
Failure to carry immigration documentation is classified as a misdemeanor. While the original fine was capped at $100, new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) guidelines allow for penalties of up to $5,000 or 30 days imprisonment. A DHS rule released in March 2025 reaffirmed this interpretation, emphasizing that “noncompliance is punishable by a fine or imprisonment, or both.”
Cruz’s fine reportedly resulted from “Operation Midway Blitz,” a DHS-led enforcement initiative in Chicago aimed at increasing compliance checks on noncitizens.
⚖️ Growing Concerns for Immigrant Communities
Immigrant rights advocates warn that this policy shift could heighten racial profiling and harassment, especially in diverse urban centers. Many Green Card holders, they argue, may forget to carry their cards daily due to fear of loss or theft.
Civil rights groups are now calling on Congress and the courts to review the constitutionality of reviving such old laws, which they believe undermine trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement.
Meanwhile, the DHS maintains that the enforcement is “part of a broader effort to restore integrity to U.S. immigration law.”
As this new era of strict compliance unfolds, millions of lawful residents across America are being urged to carry their immigration documentation at all times to avoid penalties.
📰 This report was compiled by Newspot Nigeria.
