A federal judge has given the green light to a controversial plan introduced by President Donald Trump’s administration.
The court ruled against a lawsuit filed by nonprofit organizations.
The judge backed the Trump administration’s plan to implement an online registration requirement for illegal aliens aged 14 and above, as the New York Post reports.
The rule also applies serious penalties for noncompliance.
In February, the plan was announced by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as part of a larger scheme to monitor illegal immigration.
Under this new system, immigrants must disclose specific personal information, including their fingerprints and residential addresses.
Failing to register could lead to significant fines or potential imprisonment for up to six months.
The announcement of the registry prompted several nonprofit organizations to take legal action.
Groups such as CHIRLA, the United Farmworkers of America, Make the Road New York, and CASA filed a lawsuit in an attempt to halt the implementation of the registry.
They argued that the registry caused “speculative” harm and sought to delay its implementation pending a public comment period.
On Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden dismissed the lawsuit.
In his decision, McFadden pointed to the historical precedents that sanction