CBP is Now Threatening Green Card Holders Amid High Activism

The United States is experiencing a seismic shift in immigration policy under the second Trump administration, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) intensifying operations, green card holders facing unprecedented scrutiny, and visa policies undergoing rapid changes.

Since President Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, ICE has ramped up enforcement actions as part of a hardline immigration agenda.

The administration has pledged to execute the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history, targeting undocumented immigrants and, in some cases, legal residents.

According to a June 18, 2025, Newsweek report, ICE has deported over 100,000 individuals in the initial months of Trump’s second term, leveraging authorities like the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which allows for deportations without judicial review in certain wartime contexts.

High-profile cases have drawn attention to the breadth of these operations.

For instance, Victor Avila, a 66-year-old green card holder since 1967, was detained on May 7, 2025, at San Francisco International Airport after visiting his son, a U.S. Air Force servicemember.

Avila’s detention stemmed from a 2009 misdemeanor, highlighting how past nonviolent offenses can trigger ICE action under current policies.

His daughter, Carina Mejia, told ABC 10 News, “Detaining him is very unjust… I want my dad back.”

Another case involved Cynthia Olivera, a Canadian citizen detained on June 13, 2025, during a green card interview in Chatsworth, California.

Despite her U.S.-citizen husband’s support for Trump’s deportation policies, Olivera faced removal due to a 1999 expedited removal order.

Her husband, Francisco Olvera, expressed betrayal, telling ABC 10News, “I want my vote back.”

These cases underscore a pattern: even legal residents with deep U.S. ties are not immune to enforcement.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defends these actions, emphasizing legal compliance.

On June 25, 2025, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) spokesperson stated, “Possessing a green card is a privilege, not a right; and under our nation’s laws, our government has the authority to revoke a green card if our laws are broken and abused.”

Green Card Holders: New Warnings and Risks

Green card holders, or lawful permanent residents (LPRs), are facing heightened scrutiny.

As of January 1, 2024, there were 12.8 million LPRs in the U.S., according to a July 9, 2025, Newsweek article.

Recent warnings from federal agencies emphasize that green cards can be revoked for criminal convictions, immigration violations, or activities deemed threats to national security.

On April 29, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) posted on X, reminding LPRs that their status is conditional and urging them to “behave like a guest or risk removal.”

This message sparked concern among immigration advocates. David Leopold, a former president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, called it “a dangerous precedent,” warning of potential ideological targeting.

CBP has also issued stark advisories.

A July 9, 2025, post on X stated, “Attention Green Card Holders: Having a criminal history does not make you an upstanding lawful permanent resident… Under our nation’s laws, our government has the authority to revoke your green card if our laws are broken and abused.”

This follows reports of green card holders being detained at ports of entry for prior convictions, even minor ones.

The administration’s focus extends to political activism.

A March 21, 2025, New York Times report detailed cases of green card holders detained for expressing dissent, such as pro-Palestinian activism.

Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student, was arrested on March 8, 2025, for his campus protests and now faces deportation, raising free speech concerns.

Also Read: Fed Study: Aggressive Immigration Will Now Plunge Economic Growth

Visa Policy Changes: Stricter Vetting and Bans

Visa policies are undergoing significant transformation.

On June 4, 2025, Trump signed an executive order imposing a travel ban on 19 countries, fully restricting visas from 12 and partially limiting seven, citing security concerns.

The ban has left applicants in limbo, with a July 8, 2025, Newsweek report noting that 58 plaintiffs, including pilots and AI experts, sued the administration for indefinite delays in visa processing.

USCIS has also tightened green card application requirements.

Effective June 11, 2025, all applicants must submit a renewed medical examination form (I-693), invalidating previously indefinite forms.

Immigration attorney Matt Cameron told Newsweek, “This is pretty typical of the kind of changes we’ve been seeing… making everything more difficult.”

The administration has targeted student visas, particularly those linked to pro-Palestinian activism.

Over 1,500 student visas were temporarily revoked in April 2025, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating, “We’re looking every day for these lunatics that are tearing things up.”

Amid rising enforcement, Democratic Senators Alex Padilla and Cory Booker introduced the VISIBLE Act on July 8, 2025, requiring ICE and CBP agents to wear legible identification and limiting face coverings during operations.

The bill responds to reports of masked agents detaining individuals, as noted in a July 9, 2025, Newsweek article.

Trump criticized the measure, arguing it hampers enforcement.

The immigration system is strained, with an 11.3 million case backlog at USCIS as of July 9, 2025, delaying green cards, work permits, and visas.

Public opinion is divided.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll from June 11–12, 2025, found 52% of Americans, including 90% of Republicans, support deportations, but 49% believe Trump’s arrests have gone too far.

The Trump administration’s immigration policies signal a sustained focus on enforcement, with legal residents and visa holders increasingly affected.

As ICE operations expand and legislative battles loom, the debate over immigration remains polarized.

Also Read: MAGA Now Scrutinize Trump Over Epstein Client List Failure

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