Alien registration act meaning :

The Alien Registration Act, also known as the Smith Act, is a legal rule enacted by Congress in 1940. Its primary objective was to enable the government to better monitor foreigners residing on American soil, especially those who might pose a threat to domestic security. This includes individuals suspected of subversive activities or political sympathies contrary to the interests of the country.

To ensure national security, the Alien Registration Act focuses on the activities of foreigners threatening national security. It formulates two very important lines of restrictions :

• Prohibition of teaching or promoting the violent overthrow of the American government : The law prohibits any resident or citizen of the United States from actively teaching or promoting the violent overthrow of the government.
• Requirement for non-citizens to register : Non-citizens residing in the United States are required to register with the American government. They must provide a comprehensive statement of their personal information, including their name, address, date of birth, nationality, etc.

History of the Alien Registration Act

The Alien Registration Act was designed during World War II to counter threats posed by leftist political groups, particularly the American Communist Party. From its inception, it aimed to monitor the activities of foreigners, which explains the registration of 4,741,971 aliens in just four months.

The enforcement of this law led to the arrest and imprisonment of several individuals deemed as subversive activists. Among the first targeted was James Cannon, the national secretary of the Socialist Workers Party. The Alien Registration Act sparked debates and criticism regarding its impact on civil liberties and constitutional rights, but it marked a period of heightened vigilance against perceived threats to national security in the United States.