Green card holders have been warned that they could have their eligibility to stay in the United States revoked if they support terrorism or violence.
“Coming to America and receiving a visa or green card is a privilege. Our laws and values must be respected. If you advocate for violence, endorse or support terrorist activity, or encourage others to do so, you are no longer eligible to stay in the U.S.,” the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
The warning comes amid a crackdown on immigration by the Trump administration. President Donald Trump has vowed to remove millions of immigrants without legal status as part of a hard-line mass deportation policy. The White House has said that anyone living in the country illegally is a “criminal.”
In addition to people living in the country unlawfully, immigrants with valid documentation, including green cards and visas, have been detained and face legal jeopardy. Newsweek has reported dozens of cases involving green card holders and applicants who were swept up in the immigration raids.
What To Know
The Office of Homeland Security Statistics estimated there were 12.8 million lawful permanent residents, or green card holders, living in the U.S. on January 1, 2024.
USCIS said that lawful permanent residents found to be in violation of these principles could lose their legal status and face deportation.
The Trump administration has pushed forward plans to revoke visas of foreign students allegedly connected to pro-Hamas activities. This includes participating in campus protests and distributing materials, such as flyers. The action is part of a broader executive order aimed at combating antisemitism and cracking down on individuals deemed to support extremist groups.
The crackdown has fueled a surge in immigration enforcement targeting pro-Palestinian supporters with green cards, resulting in several high-profile detentions. Among them is Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia graduate student, who was arrested at the university-owned apartment he shares with his pregnant wife.
Khalil’s friend, Mohsen Mahdawi, a green card holder, was detained by federal agents as he arrived for a citizenship appointment Monday.
Both men have since been released from ICE custody after a legal battle.
Meanwhile, immigration courts are overwhelmed, with a backlog exceeding 3.7 million cases, according to Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. Asylum-seekers often wait years for a decision.
What People Are Saying
USCIS, on X: “Green cards and visas will be revoked if an alien breaks the law.”
“USCIS works alongside our @DHSgov and@StateDept partners each day to keep America, and Americans, safe. From designating foreign terrorist organizations to imposing sanctions, we’re taking action to protect and secure our nation for your families, friends, and future.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in March: “If you apply for a student visa to come to the United States and you say you’re coming not just to study, but to participate in movements that vandalize universities, harass students, take over buildings, and cause chaos, we’re not giving you that visa.”
What Happens Next
The Trump administration will continue enforcing its hardline immigration policies. The government is expected to revoke more green cards and visas as part of the president’s agenda to carry out what he calls the largest deportation program in U.S. history. (Newsweek)
