US border officials target senior Green Card holders
Recent reports indicate that U.S. border officials, particularly Customs and Border Protection (CBP), are intensifying scrutiny of senior green card holders, especially elderly Indians returning from extended stays abroad. This increase in pressure has led to situations where these individuals face secondary inspections, overnight detentions, and coercion to surrender their residency status.
Targeted Demographic: The focus is primarily on elderly Indian green card holders who often spend winter months in India. Many of these individuals live with their children in the U.S. but return to India for extended periods, making them vulnerable to scrutiny upon re-entry.
Legal Context: Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who have been outside the U.S. for more than 180 days may be treated as seeking re-admission and are subject to grounds of inadmissibility. This scrutiny has escalated even for those who have been abroad for shorter durations.
Coercive Tactics: Immigration attorneys report that CBP officers are pressuring these seniors to sign Form I-407, which would voluntarily relinquish their green card status. Those who resist this pressure often face threats of detention or removal from the U.S..
Legal Rights: Attorneys emphasize that green card holders have the right to contest claims of abandonment in immigration court and should not surrender their status at the airport. Surrendering the green card under duress forfeits this right.
Political Climate: The heightened scrutiny is viewed as part of a broader trend influenced by past immigration policies under the Trump administration, which have emboldened CBP officers to act with greater authority in enforcing immigration laws.
This situation has raised significant concerns among immigrant advocacy groups and legal experts, who warn that such practices could undermine the rights of lawful permanent residents in the U.S.
