A federal judge has ruled in favor of President Donald Trump’s administration, allowing a controversial immigration policy to move forward. The rule mandates that undocumented immigrants aged 14 and older register with the federal government and submit their fingerprints.

Judge Trevor McFadden declined a request from immigrant advocacy groups to halt the policy, stating that the plaintiffs had not demonstrated concrete harm. “As organizations, many of their harms are too speculative, and they have failed to show that the Rule will erode their core missions,” McFadden wrote in his ruling.

The policy is set to take effect on Friday. According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), once an undocumented immigrant registers and provides fingerprints — unless fingerprinting is waived — the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will issue evidence of registration. Individuals aged 18 and older will be required to carry this documentation with them at all times.

The registration requirement is intended to enhance the government’s ability to monitor and manage undocumented populations within the United States. The administration has emphasized the measure as a critical tool for national security and immigration enforcement.

Immigrant rights groups have expressed concern over the policy’s implications, citing potential targeting and increased vulnerability for undocumented individuals. Despite these objections, the court’s decision means the rule will be implemented as scheduled.

President Trump’s administration has consistently prioritized stricter immigration policies, framing them as essential to law enforcement and national security. The registry policy represents another step in that direction, expanding the government’s data collection and documentation protocols for non-citizens living in the U.S. without legal status.