Green Card Holders Risk Losing Status Under New US Immigration Policy

The US government has initiated a stringent new immigration policy known as "Catch-And-Revoke," effective immediately, signaling a significant shift in the treatment of non-citizens who violate US laws. 

Spearheaded by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the policy introduces a "one-strike" rule, potentially leading to immediate revocation of immigration status for green card holders, visa recipients, and international students found in violation of US laws. Secretary Rubio reently stated that the new measures underscore that "the era of abusing our nation’s generosity is over.”

The policy overhaul comes in the context of heightened scrutiny of national security protocols, particularly following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. Rubio has publicly voiced concerns regarding foreign nationals allegedly involved in violent campus protests and harassment directed at Jewish students. Previously, individuals facing revocation of immigration status were afforded opportunities to contest rulings or address minor infractions.

Critics of the "Catch-And-Revoke" policy have expressed apprehensions that it may erode due process protections traditionally available to immigrants. They assert that the policy's lack of appeal mechanisms could render non-citizens vulnerable to deportation without recourse. USCIS has formally communicated that visas and green cards are provisional, stating any endorsement of violence, terrorism, or inciting others towards such acts, disqualifies any right to stay in the US.

The implementation of the "Catch-And-Revoke" policy represents a notable hardening of the US stance on immigration enforcement, promising augmented oversight and diminished safeguards for non-citizens participating in activities deemed contentious.