Green card holders' anxieties escalate: Uncovering the reasons behind unfounded fear
Fear and Uncertainty: The Plight of Legal Immigrants in America
In the contemporary United States, the lives of many legal immigrants are punctuated by an unforeseen fear – the possibility of being deported for actions as innocent as attending a conference abroad.
Consider four strangers, bound by a troubling connection: a woman from Cameroon in the Midwest, a Palestinian American in New England, a Canadian tattoo artist in Washington state, and a business owner in Colorado of Costa Rican descent. All hold green cards, serving as proof of their lawful permanent residence in the United States. Yet, each has shown apprehension over traveling, even living in their homeland – a notion unanimously inconceivable a short while ago.
"They've never been afraid before," states immigration lawyer LaToya McBean Pompy, expressing a sentiment shared by many like-minded legal residents. "But today, they're afraid."
The Root of Fear
Although 12.8 million green card holders reside in the United States, their tranquility was disrupted by unexpected events. One such incident involved Mahmoud Khalil, a former student protest leader at New York's Columbia University, who found himself detained by authorities despite being legally married to a US citizen and possessing a green card. Accused of inciting violence and supporting terrorism – claims vehemently denied by his attorneys and supporters – Khalil's case served as a sobering reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by non-citizens.
"The fact he happened to be a permanent resident underscored the vulnerability of all non-citizens in this country to a lot of people who hadn't thought it through," notes David Leopold, an immigration attorney in Ohio and former president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Leopold explains that detention and deportation of green card holders are common if they are accused and convicted of certain crimes. However, the Trump administration's attempt to deport Khalil under the pretext of "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States" is a far rarer and more troubling scenario.
"Who's next?" Leopold queried during a call with immigrant rights advocates, raising questions about various activists who could potentially fall under the administration's scrutiny.
Before Khalil's high-profile arrest, green card holders had already been wrestling with unforeseen apprehensions, largely stemming from increased immigration enforcement activities and inflammatory comments by officials like Vice President Mike Pence.
"A green card holder, even if I may like that green card holder, doesn't have an indefinite right to be in the United States of America," remarked Pence during a recent interview on Fox News, sparking more concern among legal immigrants.
The Stress of Travel
The uncertainty surrounding green card holders' legal status has placed their travel plans on hold, with many fearing that trips abroad could lead to their deportation or inability to return to their American homes.
Marina Sinden, a green card holder in Washington state and a Canadian national, has expressed concern about returning from her family visit in Canada, fearing that a clerical error in her file from a past green card application could cause confusion. Despite resolving this issue in court and having a valid green card, Sinden worries that even a small mistake could result in the loss of her entire life in the United States.
"I'm concerned that no matter what I've done to do the right things and respect the rules, I could have my entire life taken from me for a clerical issue," laments Sinden.
The stress of this looming uncertainty is often misconstrued by those who have not experienced it firsthand. Maria, a 38-year-old business owner in Colorado, shared her experiences of being undocumented as a child, comparing her feelings today to the childhood traumas and fears she thought she had left behind.
"I remember feeling like we couldn't go to the doctor, we couldn't go do anything because the fear of deportation was so real," Maria recalls. "It's terrible, and now, oh my God, all my childhood traumas and fears are being reignited and lived again – something I never thought I'd have to deal with ever again."
Facing the Future
As green card holders continue to grapple with their precarious situation, many immigration attorneys have noticed an uptick in questions about citizenship. From applying for citizenship to obtaining it, the process can be long and intricate – a reality that some procrastinate, fearing the implications it may have under the current administration.
For others, such as Marina Sinden, the looming challenges with her home country have led her to make a decision that feels both more permanent and more comforting: she plans to tattoo a Canadian maple leaf on the palm of her hand.
This article includes enrichment data sourced from CNN.
- "Given the current uncertainty, we, as legal immigrants, are advised to weigh the risks before traveling, as there remains a possibility of being detained or even deported for seemingly innocent actions such as attending a conference abroad."
- "I'm sure that many other legal residents feel the same way – apprehensive and afraid to travel, no matter the reasons, due to the potential consequences on their legal status in this country."
- "In the face of increased enforcement activities and instances of deportation, some may choose to seriously consider obtaining American citizenship, as it may offer more security and protection against potential future uncertainties."
