Key Takeaways
• Project 2025 expands expedited removal for green card holders nationwide starting January 21, 2025.
• Over 13 million lawful permanent residents risk deportation due to revoked or canceled legal statuses.
• Expedited removal allows fast deportation without court hearings or guaranteed legal representation.
A Long-Term Green Card Holder Faces Deportation: What Project 2025 Means for Millions
A 50-year resident of the United States 🇺🇸—a long-term green card holder—now faces deportation under sweeping new immigration policies rolled out in 2025. This case is not unique. Millions of lawful permanent residents (LPRs), many who have lived, worked, and raised families in the United States 🇺🇸 for decades, are now at risk of losing their legal status and being removed from the country. These changes stem from the Trump administration’s aggressive enforcement measures, most notably Project 2025, which aims to overhaul the immigration system and expand the use of expedited removal. Here’s what’s happening, why it matters, and what long-term green card holders need to know right now.
Who Is at Risk and Why?
Who: Long-term green card holders—people who have lived in the United States 🇺🇸 for decades, sometimes 50 years or more, with lawful permanent resident status.
What: Facing deportation, even after years of legal residence, due to new policies that expand the grounds for removal and make it easier for authorities to revoke green cards.
When: These changes took effect in early 2025, with the most significant updates rolling out as of January 21, 2025.
Where: Nationwide, across all states and regions of the United States 🇺🇸.
Why: The Trump administration, through Project 2025, has made it a priority to increase deportations, including of long-term residents, by expanding expedited removal and revoking legal statuses.
How: By using new rules that allow for the cancellation of green cards, enhanced vetting, and the use of expedited removal procedures that bypass traditional court hearings.
Project 2025: The Blueprint for Mass Deportation
Project 2025 is a detailed policy plan supported by conservative groups and the Trump administration. Its main goal is to make it easier to deport noncitizens—including long-term green card holders—by:
- Revoking or canceling legal immigration statuses such as green cards, making millions of people immediately deportable.
- Expanding expedited removal so that anyone unable to prove more than two years of continuous presence in the United States 🇺🇸 can be deported without a court hearing.
- Increasing collaboration with local law enforcement and expanding detention capacity to hold more people awaiting removal.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, Project 2025 could affect over 13 million lawful permanent residents, many of whom have lived in the United States 🇺🇸 for decades.
What Is Expedited Removal and Why Is It Dangerous?
Expedited removal is a fast-track deportation process. Under this system, immigration officers can deport certain noncitizens without a court hearing or a chance to see a judge. Before 2025, this process was mostly used for people caught near the border who had just arrived. Now, the Trump administration has expanded expedited removal to cover anyone, anywhere in the country, who cannot prove they have lived in the United States 🇺🇸 for more than two years.
Key risks of expedited removal:
- No court hearing: People can be removed without seeing a judge.
- No legal representation: There is no guaranteed right to a lawyer.
- Immediate action: Deportation can happen very quickly, sometimes within days.
- Proof burden: If you cannot immediately show documents proving your status or length of stay, you may be deported—even if you have lived in the United States 🇺🇸 for decades.
Civil rights groups warn that this process increases the risk of wrongful deportations, especially for long-term green card holders who may not always carry proof of their status or length of residence.
How Are Green Card Holders Targeted?
Many people believe that having a green card means they are safe from deportation. This is not true. Under current rules, even a long-term green card holder can be placed in removal proceedings for several reasons:
- Criminal convictions: Even old or minor offenses can now trigger removal.
- Fraud or misrepresentation: If authorities believe you lied or made a mistake in your original application, your status can be revoked—even decades later.
- Abandonment of residency: If you spend long periods outside the United States 🇺🇸 or fail to file taxes, you may be accused of abandoning your residency.
- Inability to prove status or presence: Under the new expedited removal rules, if you cannot show proof of your legal status or that you have lived in the country for more than two years, you can be deported on the spot.
Project 2025’s Impact on Legal Rights
Project 2025’s proposals go even further than previous policies. If fully implemented, they would:
- Revoke millions of green cards and other legal statuses.
- Expand expedited removal nationwide, making it easier for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deport people without court hearings.
- Increase detention capacity, with plans to more than double the number of people held in immigration detention each day.
- Make it harder for immigrants to get legal help, by adding new administrative burdens and even criminal penalties for legal service providers.
These changes have created a climate of fear and uncertainty in immigrant communities, especially among long-term green card holders who have built their lives in the United States 🇺🇸.
The Step-by-Step Process for Green Card Holders Facing Deportation
If you are a green card holder facing possible deportation, here’s what typically happens:
- Notice to Appear (NTA): You receive a formal notice that you are being placed in removal proceedings.
- Immigration Court Hearing: You appear before an immigration judge, unless you are subject to expedited removal.
- Defense and Relief: You may present defenses, such as cancellation of removal, waivers, or asylum, if you qualify.
- Expedited Removal Risk: If you cannot prove more than two years of continuous presence or your legal status, you may be removed without a hearing.
- Appeals: There are limited appeal rights, but expedited removal greatly reduces these protections.
For more information about the removal process and your rights, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) official website.
Real-World Impact: Families, Communities, and the Economy
The expansion of expedited removal and the threat of mass revocation of green cards have real consequences:
- Family separation: Many long-term green card holders have U.S. citizen children, spouses, and other family members. Deportation can tear families apart.
- Community disruption: Immigrants who have lived in the United States 🇺🇸 for decades are often deeply involved in their communities, churches, and workplaces. Their removal affects everyone around them.
- Economic costs: Long-term residents contribute to the economy as workers, business owners, and taxpayers. Their loss can hurt local economies and reduce tax revenue.
Advocacy groups like the ACLU and the Vera Institute warn that these policies could lead to the wrongful deportation of people who have spent most of their lives in the United States 🇺🇸.
Legal and Policy Background: How Did We Get Here?
Before 2025, expedited removal was mostly used for recent arrivals near the border. Long-term residents were generally entitled to full removal proceedings, which included a court hearing and the right to legal representation. The Trump administration’s 2025 policies, guided by Project 2025, represent a major shift. Now, even long-term green card holders can be subject to fast-track removal if they cannot immediately prove their status or length of residence.
Key policy changes:
- January 21, 2025: DHS authorized the use of expedited removal for noncitizens found anywhere in the United States 🇺🇸 who cannot prove more than two years of continuous presence.
- April 11, 2025: Some undocumented immigrants are required to register with DHS, raising concerns that this information could be used for enforcement and deportation.
What Are the Main Risks for Long-Term Green Card Holders?
Here’s a summary of the main risks facing long-term green card holders in 2025:
| Risk Factor | Policy Change (2025) | Practical Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Convictions | Expanded grounds for removal | Even old or minor convictions can trigger removal |
| Fraud/Misrepresentation | Enhanced vetting, retroactive review | Status can be revoked decades after issuance |
| Abandonment of Residency | Stricter scrutiny of ties to U.S. | Extended absences or lack of tax filing = risk |
| Inability to Prove Status/Presence | Expedited removal nationwide | Immediate removal if unable to show documentation |
| Lack of Legal Representation | Barriers to legal aid | Fewer defenses available in court |
What Should Green Card Holders Do Now?
Given the current climate, all green card holders—especially those who have lived in the United States 🇺🇸 for many years—should take the following steps:
- Carry proof of status and residence: Always keep your green card and documents showing your length of stay (such as tax returns, leases, or utility bills) with you.
- Consult an immigration attorney: If you have any criminal convictions, past immigration issues, or long absences from the United States 🇺🇸, seek legal advice immediately.
- Stay informed: Monitor updates from official sources like USCIS and reputable advocacy groups.
- Know your rights: Even under expedited removal, you have the right to ask for a hearing if you claim U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent resident status, or fear persecution in your home country.
Multiple Perspectives: What Are People Saying?
Legal experts warn that expanding expedited removal and revoking legal status undermine basic legal protections. They say these changes could lead to the wrongful deportation of people with deep family and community ties in the United States 🇺🇸.
Supporters of the administration argue that these measures are needed for national security and to address fraud and criminal activity among noncitizens.
Advocacy groups stress the humanitarian and economic costs, pointing out the risk to families, communities, and the broader economy if millions of long-term residents are removed.
Legal Challenges and the Future
Civil rights organizations, including the ACLU, have filed lawsuits challenging the new expedited removal policies. They argue that these rules violate constitutional and legal protections. However, unless Congress acts or the courts block these policies, the risk of deportation for long-term green card holders remains high.
Project 2025 also calls for even broader revocation of legal statuses and greater use of local law enforcement in immigration enforcement. This means the situation could become even more difficult for long-term residents in the future.
Where to Get Help and More Information
If you or someone you know is a long-term green card holder worried about deportation, here are some resources:
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): For status verification and official forms.
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS): For enforcement policies and updates.
- American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA): For legal referrals and updates.
- ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project: For legal challenges and advocacy.
For official immigration forms, such as the Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, always use the official USCIS website.
Takeaways for Long-Term Green Card Holders
- You are not immune from deportation, even after decades in the United States 🇺🇸.
- Project 2025 and new enforcement policies have increased the risk for all green card holders.
- Expedited removal can happen quickly and without a court hearing if you cannot prove your status or length of stay.
- Legal help is harder to get, so act quickly if you are at risk.
- Stay informed, keep your documents ready, and seek legal advice if you have any concerns.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the current climate is one of uncertainty and fear for many long-term residents. Legal challenges are ongoing, but for now, every green card holder should be prepared and know their rights.
If you are at risk, consult an immigration attorney immediately and keep up with updates from official government and advocacy group sources.
For more information on your rights and the latest policy changes, visit the USCIS official website.
Learn Today
Green Card Holder → A lawful permanent resident authorized to live and work permanently in the United States.
Project 2025 → A policy initiative aiming to increase deportations by expanding expedited removal and revoking legal statuses.
Expedited Removal → A fast-track deportation process allowing removal without court hearings or legal representation.
Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) → An immigrant granted authorization to live and work permanently in the U.S. with a green card.
Notice to Appear (NTA) → A formal document initiating removal proceedings against a noncitizen in the U.S.
This Article in a Nutshell
Project 2025 intensifies deportation risks for millions of long-term green card holders through expedited removal and mass legal status revocation, reshaping immigration enforcement across the U.S. Green card holders must stay informed, carry proof of residency, and seek legal help to navigate this unprecedented threat.
— By VisaVerge.com
