The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed a rule to expand the AR-11 change-of-address form to collect more data from non-citizens [1].

This expansion represents a significant shift in how the federal government monitors the movement and personal details of immigrants. By gathering more granular data, the agency seeks to increase the efficiency of immigration enforcement and oversight [1].

Under the proposal, the AR-11 form would be expanded to 11 pages [1]. The increased length allows the agency to add detailed questions regarding the employment history and schooling of the individual [1, 2].

Beyond education and work, the proposed rule would require information on the public benefits an individual receives [1, 2]. The department also intends to expand the collection of biometric data to better assist enforcement agencies in identifying and tracking non-citizens [2].

The Department of Homeland Security said the goal of the proposal is to provide immigration enforcement agencies with more comprehensive data for oversight purposes [1]. This move would centralize information that was previously collected through disparate channels, or not required during a simple change-of-address notification [1].

The proposal targets non-citizens living within the United States who are required to notify the government when they move [1]. By integrating biometric data and socio-economic markers into a routine administrative form, the agency can create a more detailed profile of the population under its jurisdiction [2].

“The AR-11 form would be expanded to 11 pages.”

The proposed expansion of the AR-11 form signals a transition toward more aggressive data-driven surveillance of non-citizens. By converting a simple notification of residence into a comprehensive intake form, the DHS can synchronize biometric markers with employment and benefit data, reducing the anonymity of immigrants and streamlining the process for deportation or enforcement actions.