U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a warning to green card holders to remind lawful permanent residents to always retain their proof of their immigration status.
“Always carry your alien registration documents. Failure to do so when federal law enforcement stops will result in misdemeanors and fines.”
Why it matters
President Donald Trump has ordered his administration to remove millions of immigrants without legal status in order to meet his promise of mass deportation for his campaign. The White House insists that anyone living in the country illegally is considered a criminal.
In addition to those who do not have legal status in the country, immigrants with valid documents (including green cards and visas) are also detained. Newsweek Dozens of cases involving green card holders and applicants have been reported, which have been swept through immigration and customs law enforcement attacks.
Customs and border protection officers in front of the agency’s booth at a job fair in Orange County, Orlando, Florida, July 10.
Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP
What to know
The Bureau of Homeland Security Statistics estimates that as of January 1, 2024, about 12.8 million legal residents in the United States live in the United States.
Non-citizens’ requirements for carrying registration documents are not new. It originated from Section 264(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which failed to carry these documents as federal misdemeanors.
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), legal permanent residents who fail to comply with these legal requirements may lose their immigration status and may face evacuation from the country.
Green card holders have the right to remain silent and demand detention and legal representation. Although the law requires the carrying of status proof, the individual is not obliged to answer questions without the presence of a lawyer.
USCIS also paid a new $1,050 fee for certain applications, which were filed as part of a green card case when the immigration court ruled. This fee applies to Form I-131, which requires travel documents such as preparatory parole, and Form I-765, i.e., employment authorization application. This change adds a huge financial burden to individuals who navigate the court system while seeking legal permanent residence.
What are people talking about
Customs and Border Protection published on X: “Every alien aged 18 and older should be carried with you at any time and have any alien registration certificate or certificate of alien registration receipt issued to him. Failure to do so will result in a misdemeanor, if you are federal law enforcement, if you are a non-official, comply with U.S. law.