Alien Registration Act

The Alien Registration Act, passed in 1940 in the United States, required non-citizens (aliens) living in the country to register with the government. This law aimed to keep track of foreign nationals, especially amid concerns about national security during World War II. Registered individuals had to provide personal information and could face penalties for failing to register. The act also included provisions for monitoring and potentially deporting individuals deemed dangerous. Although its original intent was linked to wartime security, it raised issues around civil liberties and the treatment of immigrants.