U.S. Immigrants Legally Change Identities Within Federal Law

In 2025, lawful permanent residents in the U.S. can legally change their names and identities through established legal processes, provided they comply with federal and state laws and do not attempt to commit fraud or evade legal obligations. Amicus International Consulting highlights the importance of navigating legal identity changes carefully amidst increased digital surveillance and cooperation among governments to combat identity fraud, emphasizing that legitimate identity transformation is distinct from criminal acts and requires official documentation and judicial approval. Meanwhile, identity theft by illegal aliens remains a significant issue, with cases like Austin Yeazel's illustrating how stolen Social Security numbers used by unauthorized workers can devastate American citizens' lives. Immigration policy experts, such as Jessica Vaughan, argue for stricter visa enforcement under the Trump administration, suggesting reforms to reduce visa fraud and tighten visa durations to restore integrity to the immigration system. These developments underscore the delicate balance between protecting immigrants' rights to lawful identity changes and preventing illegal identity use that harms U.S. residents and complicates immigration enforcement.