My uncle who was born in Minnesota and started his family had moved to Canada to homestead in the early part of the 1900s. Apparently he had to become a citizen of Canada to homestead. When he returned to Minnesota a few years later he was required to register as an alien. The registration listed all members of his family. So it was not only the Germans but anyone who was at that time not a citizen.
Interesting?
Carol
I believe this should clarify the 'Alien Registrations' issue satisfactorily. While there were definitely different stripes to this, they all appear to be directly related the WWI draft/security initiative - at least for that period.
Carol and Ingrid, thanks for your additions. Interesting yes.
[NARA]
Enemy Alien Registration Affidavits, 1917-1921
Following the onset of hostilities during World War I, non-naturalized "Enemy Aliens" by definition, were required to register with United States authorities as a national security measure. Under the provisions of a Presidential Proclamation of April 6, 1917, non-naturalized female aliens were likewise registered as an additional national security measure that included those women of American birth that were married to enemy aliens. The series contains original affidavits of registration that record personal information about each registrant, their photograph affixed to the majority of documents, and the registrants fingerprints. These materials are held by NARA's Central Plains Region (Kansas City, MO).
Note: Digital copies of these records can be found at:
Following the onset of hostilities during World War I, non-naturalized "Enemy Aliens" by definition, were required to register with United States authorities as a national security measure. Under the provisions of a Presidential Proclamation of April 6, 1917, non-naturalized female aliens were likewise registered as an additional national security measure that included those women of American birth that were married to enemy aliens.
"Enemy aliens"? After reviewing a sampling of these records, they hardly come across as fitting an "enemy" profile.
This can be seen as one more indicator of the political sentiment of the time regarding the "Huns" (ergo Germans), in this case being arbitrarily and prejudiciously classified as the "enemy" for no other reason than being newly settled to the United States, or non-naturalized. A better or more apt description could certainly have been formulated. It simply buttresses what I stated earlier in the week: the propaganda of the Wilson Administration - and of the organized press across America during that time - bordered on the criminal.
Al Toennies wrote:
I am told there was considerable hostility to these forms from the German-American community ..
Is there any wonder why now?
What sweet irony though. Despised by the generation under the scope, they're now valued by the subsequent ones. Here's to happy endings. 
Jb