Green Card Rights Explained by Experts

The rights of permanent residents in the United States are being called into doubt by the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder and former Columbia University student who participated in pro-Palestinian campus demonstrations in 2024.  Khalil is not facing any criminal charges.  On the basis of foreign policy, the Trump administration claims it has the authority to deport him. Non-citizens can live and work in the US permanently with a green card, also known as a permanent resident card.  A person may qualify for a green card for a variety of reasons, including employment, family, or refugee status.  According to David Leopold, a partner at UB Greensfelder and an expert in immigration law, most green cards have a ten-year expiration date and must be renewed, much like U.S. residents must renew their passports. A person may be deported and lose their green card for a variety of reasons.  The majority of these cases are the result of criminal activity by a green card holder, such as violent crimes, marriage fraud, controlled substance misuse, and other violations.  According to Leopold, they would have to appear before an immigration judge as part of removal procedures if found guilty, which usually happen after they have completed their term in the United States. The Immigration and Nationality Act establishes the process for revoking a green card holder’s status.  Green card holders can be deported under the act without having to be found guilty of a crime, Cornell Law School immigration law professor Jaclyn Kelley-Widmer told The Associated Press.  According to her, individuals might be deported, for instance, if there are good reasons to think they have committed or are about to commit acts of terrorism.  If a green card holder leaves the country for an extended period of time, they may also lose their status. 

Source: CBS News