Talk of a new executive order raised the potential of an unexplored avenue to tackle the aftermath of open borders: the banking system.
Much like the Department of Government Efficiency utilized a basic accountability system in attempting to downsize the federal government, attempts to scale down the presence of illegal aliens in the United States could see banks requiring new documentation checks.
According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, the Treasury Department has considered requiring banks to request their customers provide citizenship information in order to both open and maintain accounts.
Journal reporter Natalie Andrews wrote on X, “The Trump administration is weighing a possible executive order or other action that would require banks to collect citizenship information from customers, a new front in the administration’s crackdown on immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.”
Offering his endorsement for the proposal and detailing action steps, Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton (R) reacted, “I strongly support President Trump taking action to prevent illegal migrants from accessing our banking system. I sent a letter to @SecScottBessent asking for an investigation into this matter, and will be introducing legislation on this issue shortly.”
I strongly support President Trump taking action to prevent illegal migrants from accessing our banking system.
I sent a letter to @SecScottBessent asking for an investigation into this matter, and will be introducing legislation on this issue shortly. https://t.co/Y92fdjpon9
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) February 24, 2026
Cotton contacted Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in October 2025, urging a “comprehensive review of current rules that allow illegal aliens to obtain financial services and access to the US banking system, including the regulations governing the acceptance of foreign identification documents for opening bank accounts in the United States.”
In their own report on the possible move, CNN detailed, “The potential action, which one source said could take the form of an executive order, has raised concern in the industry that banks could be compelled to ask customers for an unprecedented category of documents, including passports and other documents that verify citizenship status. The source cautioned that plans haven’t been finalized and that there are still considerations underway over other options and legal authorities.”
A financial industry source told the outlet, “It’s a bad idea. We are very alarmed.”
“Verifying every bank customer’s citizenship status would be unworkable,” argued one person said to be familiar with the proposal. “Such a mandate could force every bank in America to solicit documentation that many everyday Americans do not have on hand. To put that into perspective, the US government has spent the last 20 years trying to encourage adoption of the REAL ID, and even that form of documentation does not constitute proof of citizenship.”
Tempering the reports, White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai said in a statement, “Any reporting about potential policymaking that has not been officially announced by the White House is baseless speculation.”
While some in banking would likely oppose obstacles to maximize the number of customers utilizing their services, many Americans spoke up with their support for such a measure, much in the same way that the vast majority remain in favor of voter ID laws.
This should have been standard operating procedure all along.
— Cosisiwa Shamatari (@cosisiwa18701) February 24, 2026
My wife is an immigrant and guess what – she is legal and she loves this stuff.
— Derek Dervinis (@DerekDervinis) February 24, 2026
It’s better late than never, let’s get it done.
— Magnolia (@Magnoli46798342) February 25, 2026
Once all normal living activities are cut off from illegals they’ll self deport
— Sunnyday (@Sunnyda08414772) February 24, 2026
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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