Trump administration warns Green Card holders: Law violations could lead to revocation

Thousands of green card holders in the United States, including many from India, are facing uncertainty and fear of deportation following a new warning from the Trump administration. In a recent statement, the administration reminded green card holders to adhere strictly to American laws and values or risk losing their permanent residency status.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) outlined that green cards and visas could be revoked if an individual breaks the law. "Green cards and visas will be revoked if an alien breaks the law," the USCIS said in a post on X. It emphasised that obtaining a visa or green card is a privilege, not a right, and stated that green card holders who advocate violence, support terrorist activities, or encourage such actions would no longer be eligible to stay in the US.

The Immigration Department further added on a post on X, "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 US."

This message follows a broader crackdown on immigration by the Trump administration, which has resulted in mass deportations of illegal immigrants. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the "Catch-And-Revoke" policy, emphasising that any non-US citizens who break the law will face immediate revocation of their status. "Whenever the government catches non-US citizens breaking our laws, we will take action to revoke their status. The era of abusing our nation's generosity is over," Rubio said.

For Indian immigrants, the process of obtaining a green card is already a lengthy and difficult one. Due to per-country limits, Indian nationals can wait for decades to secure employment-based green cards. Now, with the new policy, even those who have spent years waiting for permanent residency could face deportation over relatively minor legal issues.

In the past, immigrants had the right to challenge the revocation of their green cards or correct minor violations. However, the new rules could eliminate this safeguard, making visa revocation a potential ground for deportation without the opportunity for an appeal.

This move has raised significant concerns among legal residents, especially those from countries like India, where the path to permanent residency is already fraught with long delays and uncertainties.