Today, there are nearly 12.8 million permanent residents living in the United States. They have all the same rights as US citizens, except for the voting. It seems every day more of our friends, families and neighbors are worried for their livelihoods, statures and safety. This anxiety has been exacerbated by recent immigration enforcement policies. Recent incidents such as the Trump administration’s attempted deportation of Khalil have heightened this concern. Certainly, several other advocates expressed help at that specified statute unusual and concerning. Consequently, green card holders are reconsidering their futures, with many beginning to seek US citizenship to guarantee their safety.
Green card holders, though generally safe unless they commit a crime, face the risk of detention and deportation if accused and convicted of certain offenses. This increased feeling of vulnerability has resulted in many being fearful to travel or enjoy a safe community and risk losing their green cards. Maria is a small business owner from Colorado. Having arrived in the US from Costa Rica at the age of five, Maureen now feels that citizenship is the best route to gain her family’s security.
Increased Fear Among Green Card Holders
The current climate — including anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies targeting vulnerable populations have all but decimated feelings of security among green card holders. They’ve had more rights than people on student visas or undocumented immigrants. The threat of being stripped of their hard-earned status or deported is indeed a present danger.
“They’ve never been afraid before,” she says, “but today, they’re afraid.”
Leopold underscores the chilling dilemma experienced by those who would undertake actions that they know to be intimidating to those in power.
“Is it a climate activist? Is it a gender-rights activist? Is it trans activists? Is it somebody who is concerned about health care? Is it somebody who just simply opposes Donald Trump?”
Such fears are not unfounded, as recent enforcement actions have hit the wires and brought increased media attention and public concern.
“I think it had to do with ICE and enforcement activities that folks were seeing and posting about that were happening in their communities,” – McBean Pompy
Weighing the Path to Citizenship
For most green card holders, applying for US citizenship is a more attractive option now than ever before. Maria’s sentiments are a reality many immigrants express when faced with the potential for deportation and family separation.
“I don’t want to be separated from my family,” – Maria
In much the same way, Sinden is choosing US citizenship because of increasing trepidations. She’ll be able to apply starting this month and would much rather take this route than just being allowed to keep the status quo. That very optimism is echoed by Kuck, who believes that optimism will result in a boomlet of new applications for citizenship.
“I think you will see a lot more people applying for citizenship than might normally have applied,” – Kuck
While some argue for citizenship, many others are afraid to speak out against them—even if it means talking to the press. Green card holder L expresses her concerns about what might happen if she speaks out.
“When I got my green card, I thought everything was going to be OK for me. … Lately, with all that’s been going on, I don’t even know,” – L
Risks and Precautions
Even with all these unknowns, experts recommend some actions green card holders can take to shore up their status against any potential threats. McBean Pompy recommends that they don’t leave the US for more than six months. This ensures that they are not caught by surprise when trying to reenter the country. Leopold echoes a broader call for caution with respect to travel decisions.
“If I were not a citizen, I would think long and hard before I traveled. And that includes green card holders. It’s less of a risk, obviously, for a green card holder to travel, because you do have more rights with the green card, and it’s much harder to keep a green card holder out of the country,” – Leopold
Kuck hopes to reassure green card holders that the majority should be unaffected, unless they engage in behavior that government officials deem dangerous. Yet this promise does nothing to assuage the fear that has led to widespread panic.
“Green card holders should be fine,” Kuck says. “Unless they’re engaging in activities that (Secretary of State) Marco Rubio would consider to be terrorism, I think they’re absolutely OK. And that’s the vast majority of people.” – Kuck
