A new executive order from Trump shakes up the financial system: banks will be required to verify the immigration status of their customers. This measure, first reported by EL PAÍS, aims to identify illegal residents by reviewing official documents from each account holder. Financial institutions thus become another arm of immigration control.
The backend of financial exclusion 🖥️
For developers, the challenge is both technical and legal. Government immigration verification APIs will need to be integrated into core banking systems, validating biometric data and documents such as passports or green cards. Customer databases will have to be tagged with legal status fields, triggering automatic alerts for accounts without valid documentation. Regulatory compliance will require real-time audits and robust encryption to protect sensitive data.
Paying for coffee now requires a passport and two witnesses ☕
Soon, opening a checking account will be more complex than applying for a visa. Imagine going to the bank, asking for a debit card, and the executive asking you for your residence permit, a letter from your landlord, and your family tree. Of course, if you are a premium customer with sufficient funds, they will surely find an exception in the fine print. Bureaucracy has never been so selective.