A lawsuit filed by immigration advocates has brought hope to Canadian snowbirds who were planning to leave the United States due to a looming registration requirement. The rule, set to begin on April 11, would have required non-U.S. citizens staying longer than 29 days to register with the government.
The American Immigration Council and partner organizations launched the suit this week, claiming that the Trump administration failed to seek public input on an ill-conceived directive affecting millions of people. The advocacy groups argue that the rule was issued in an improper and illegal way.
“We feel strongly that this rule was issued in an improper and illegal way,” said Michelle Lapointe, legal director at the American Immigration Council. “What they’re rolling out is a system that is arbitrary, it’s confusing, it doesn’t make sense.”
The registration requirement, which was part of President Donald Trump’s executive order “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” would have required foreign nationals staying 30 days or longer to register online with the U.S. government. The form asks for personal details such as one’s U.S. address, email, and marital status, and non-Canadians would also be required to submit fingerprints.
However, the lawsuit aims to block this requirement before its rollout on April 11. On Tuesday, the advocacy groups will ask the District Court for the District of Columbia to impose a preliminary injunction blocking the registration requirement.
Canadian snowbirds have been particularly affected by the rule, with many planning to leave the U.S. due to concerns about their safety and security. Rena Hans of Toronto, who owns a condo in Florida, expressed her concern: “I feel as if we are being targeted as Canadians… This is giving me kind of like, a little bit of a totalitarian vibe.”
The lawsuit also highlights the potential financial harm that the rule could cause to American communities that rely on snowbirds for tourism and economic growth.
If successful, the lawsuit would bring relief to Canadian snowbirds who were planning to return to their homes in Canada. For David and Dianne Fine, who are wintering at an RV park in Brownsville, Texas, the decision to leave is already made: “We’re going home,” said Fine. “We don’t want to take any chances.”
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Department of Homeland Security have declined to comment on the lawsuit or clarify the registration rules. However, immigration advocates remain hopeful that the court will block the requirement, citing concerns about its complexity and potential impact on Canadians.
As one snowbird noted: “We’re pretty happy that this could go through and take away all the confusion.”
Source: CBC Canada
