According to recent media reports, indian Green Card holders are being closely inspected at US airports, particularly those who are elderly and spend the winter in India.
What Caused This?
They have reportedly been under pressure from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel to sign Form I-407 agreeing to 'voluntarily' give up their permanent residency.
The CBP officials have responded by threatening to "detain" or "remove" any of the older indians who attempted to resist.
This seems to be the background of the executive measures about immigration that US President donald trump previously issued following his return to the White House.
US vice-president JD Vance, whose wife is Indian-American, stated that having a Green Card does not give one the indefinite right to stay in the country.
"For a green card holder, even if I might like that green card holder, he does not have an indefinite right to be in the united states of America," Vance added more when speaking to the media.
In this case, they were discussing a Green Card, which is a permanent resident card that permits a person to live and work in the united states permanently.
Under Pressure to 'Voluntarily' Give Up Your Green Card
Ashwin Sharma, an immigration lawyer in Florida, confirmed this, stating that he has dealt with multiple situations in which elderly indian Green Card holders were threatened with removal.
He went on to say, "I have personally handled cases recently where the CBP has targeted elderly indian green card holders, particularly grandparents who happen to have spent a bit longer outside the US, and pressured them to sign Form I-407 to 'voluntarily' surrender their lawful permanent resident status (green card)."
"The moment they have tried to push back, they have been met with threats of detention or 'removal' by the CBP officers who have been emboldened by trump to see themselves as judge, jury, and executioner," Ashwin stated.
There's No Need To Give Up Your Green Card
Revocation of the Green Card is contingent upon the possessor 'voluntarily' relinquishing it, according to
Another Seattle-based immigration lawyer,
People were advised by Kripa Upadhyay not to sign Form I-407 under duress.
"A Green Card holder is considered to have 'abandoned' their abode if they have been outside the united states for more than 365 days. "The green card holder has the right to contest this in court, even if it is an allegation, but they forfeit this right if they 'voluntarily' surrender at the airport." Kripa clarified.
According to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), Green Card holders who have been residing overseas for more than 180 days are deemed to be seeking "re-admission" and may not be admitted upon their return to the United States.
Those who are abroad for more than a year are typically at risk of abandonment.
However, shorter winter stays in india are currently under intense scrutiny.
What Caused This?
They have reportedly been under pressure from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel to sign Form I-407 agreeing to 'voluntarily' give up their permanent residency.
The CBP officials have responded by threatening to "detain" or "remove" any of the older indians who attempted to resist.
This seems to be the background of the executive measures about immigration that US President donald trump previously issued following his return to the White House.
US vice-president JD Vance, whose wife is Indian-American, stated that having a Green Card does not give one the indefinite right to stay in the country.
"For a green card holder, even if I might like that green card holder, he does not have an indefinite right to be in the united states of America," Vance added more when speaking to the media.
In this case, they were discussing a Green Card, which is a permanent resident card that permits a person to live and work in the united states permanently.
Under Pressure to 'Voluntarily' Give Up Your Green Card
Ashwin Sharma, an immigration lawyer in Florida, confirmed this, stating that he has dealt with multiple situations in which elderly indian Green Card holders were threatened with removal.
He went on to say, "I have personally handled cases recently where the CBP has targeted elderly indian green card holders, particularly grandparents who happen to have spent a bit longer outside the US, and pressured them to sign Form I-407 to 'voluntarily' surrender their lawful permanent resident status (green card)."
"The moment they have tried to push back, they have been met with threats of detention or 'removal' by the CBP officers who have been emboldened by trump to see themselves as judge, jury, and executioner," Ashwin stated.
There's No Need To Give Up Your Green Card
Revocation of the Green Card is contingent upon the possessor 'voluntarily' relinquishing it, according to
Another Seattle-based immigration lawyer,
People were advised by Kripa Upadhyay not to sign Form I-407 under duress.
"A Green Card holder is considered to have 'abandoned' their abode if they have been outside the united states for more than 365 days. "The green card holder has the right to contest this in court, even if it is an allegation, but they forfeit this right if they 'voluntarily' surrender at the airport." Kripa clarified.
According to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), Green Card holders who have been residing overseas for more than 180 days are deemed to be seeking "re-admission" and may not be admitted upon their return to the United States.
Those who are abroad for more than a year are typically at risk of abandonment.
However, shorter winter stays in india are currently under intense scrutiny.
click and follow Indiaherald WhatsApp channel