“Leave Now…”: A 30-Day Warning For Foreign Nationals Staying In US

International nationals who keep within the US longer than 30 days should register with the federal government and a failure to conform can result in fines and imprisonment, the Division of Homeland Safety underneath the Donald Trump administration has mentioned.

“International nationals current within the US longer than 30 days should register with the federal authorities. Failure to conform is against the law punishable by fines and imprisonment. @POTUS Trump and @Sec_Noem have a transparent message to Unlawful aliens: LEAVE NOW and self-deport,” the division has posted on X, tagging President Trump’s workplace and Krishi Noem, the secretary of the Division of Homeland Safety.

International nationals current within the U.S. longer than 30 days should register with the federal authorities. Failure to conform is against the law punishable by fines and imprisonment. @POTUS Trump and @Sec_Noem have a transparent message to Unlawful aliens: LEAVE NOW and self-deport. pic.twitter.com/FrsAQtUA7H

— Homeland Safety (@DHSgov) April 12, 2025

This choice won’t immediately affect these within the US on visas akin to H-1 B or pupil permits, but it surely alerts stricter enforcement of legal guidelines to forestall overseas nationals from staying within the US with out correct authorisation. In instances the place a person on an H-1 B visa loses the job however doesn’t exit the nation inside the specified interval, he/she could face motion. College students and H-1 B Visa holders will, due to this fact, want to make sure that their keep within the US fulfills compliance necessities.

The Homeland Safety division, in a submit titled ‘Message to Unlawful Aliens’ asks overseas nationals staying on with out the authorities’ clearance to self-deport. It additionally lists the advantages of doing so.

“Self-deportation is protected. Depart by yourself phrases by selecting your departure flight. Hold cash earned within the US in case you self-deport as a non-criminal unlawful alien,” it says.

The submit additionally says self-deportation will preserve open a future alternative for authorized immigration and such deportees may be eligible for a subsidised flight if they can not afford to depart.

Itemizing the implications of not informing the authorities in time, the submit says foreigners staying illegally will face speedy deportation after the Homeland Safety division identifies them. “A high-quality of $998 per day in case you acquired a closing order of removing and stayed. A high-quality of $1,000-$5,000 in case you fail to self-deport after claiming that you’ll. In the event you fail to self-deport, it’s possible you’ll be topic to jail time,” it provides. The submit mentioned overseas nationals who do not register themselves can be barred from returning to the US by the authorized immigration system.