Trump signed an executive order two days ago requiring strict scrutiny of banking activities in the U.S. by non-U.S. citizens.

On the 19th of this month, Trump signed an executive order requiring enhanced scrutiny of banking activities conducted by non-citizens in the United States and directing the U.S. Department of the Treasury to issue formal guidance to financial institutions for identifying and reporting suspicious activities—including evasion of payroll taxes, concealment of true account holders, and off-the-books wage payments. Citing the need to restore integrity in the financial system and guard against structural risks, the executive order requires the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and federal financial regulators to promulgate new rules within 60 to 180 days. These rules include strengthening customer due diligence for individuals without work authorization and their employers; incorporating potential deportation and income loss into assessments of loan repayment capacity; and intensifying investigations into illicit financial activities designed to circumvent the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA)—such as misuse of Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs), shell companies, and transaction structuring.