USCIS Warns Green Card Can Be Revoked Years Later for Mistakes

(UNITED STATES) As of August 22, 2025, U.S. immigration authorities warned that lawful permanent residents can lose their Green Card years after approval under tougher, continuous screening rules now in force. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has moved to faster revocation when officials uncover fraud, certain crimes, or ties to violence or terrorism, and when people fail to keep continuous residence in the country.

The agency says permanent residence is a privilege tied to compliance with U.S. law. While due process still applies, the enforcement posture has hardened: cases can be sent to immigration court quickly, and a judge may end status and order removal even long after the card was issued. The new approach affects about 12.8 million Green Card holders nationwide and marks a clear break from past practice that offered more time and discretion before action.

What “continuous screening” means

USCIS has rolled out what officials describe as continuous screening of permanent residents, a shift some advocates call a “Catch-And-Revoke” model. Instead of checking backgrounds only during the Green Card application, the agency now runs ongoing checks after approval.

• If databases flag a fraud pattern, a serious conviction, or activity that supports terrorism or violence, case officers can move the file fast.
• In practice, that can mean a quick referral to enforcement and service of a <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/memos/20180628-PM-602-0050.1-Guidance-for-NTAs.pdf">Notice to Appear (NTA)</a> to start removal proceedings.
• Appeals remain possible, but the window to fix issues that were once treated as minor has narrowed.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the change reflects a broader push for rapid enforcement and fewer second chances when integrity or public safety is at stake.

“Permanent residence depends on good faith and law-abiding behavior, not just on a plastic card or a past approval notice.”

Core triggers for revocation

Officials list the same core triggers repeatedly. The biggest drivers are:

• Fraud or misrepresentation: false statements during the application, including sham marriage or hiding facts.
• Criminal convictions: especially crimes involving moral turpitude, drug trafficking, or terrorism-related acts.
• Failure to maintain continuous residence: long trips abroad without proper permission can be read as breaking residence.
• Becoming a public charge: dependence on government aid can trigger review and possible loss of status.

Any of these can open the door to revocation and removal proceedings, even if the conduct took place after the Green Card was issued or comes to light years later.

Legal mechanics and due process

USCIS cannot end status in secret. There is no automatic or silent revocation. Typical procedural paths include:

• Most cases begin with an NTA that places the person in immigration court, where an immigration judge decides whether the government has met its burden.
• The person can bring counsel, present evidence, and appeal.
• In a narrower set of cases, USCIS may use <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-7-part-n">administrative rescission</a> within five years of granting permanent residence if it believes the original approval was in error or was won through fraud.
• Most disputes, however, move through removal proceedings so the judge can hear both sides.

The Department of Justice in 2025 adopted a position that allows the government to challenge approvals that stemmed from error or fraud even decades later. Combined with continuous screening, that signals a lasting shift toward checking and rechecking eligibility over time.

How investigations and referrals typically work

Under the new posture, investigators check more data sources more often. If a database hit suggests identity fraud, a sham marriage, a serious arrest leading to conviction, or activity tied to violence or terrorism, the case can move to enforcement. Officials then typically choose one of two tracks:

1. USCIS or DHS identifies grounds for action (fraud, conviction, or terrorism ties).
2. The agency serves a Notice to Appear (NTA), opening removal proceedings in immigration court.
3. The court holds hearings where the resident may present a defense.
4. The judge issues a decision on status and removal.
5. The losing party may appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals and sometimes to federal court.
6. In limited cases, USCIS may pursue administrative rescission within five years without first going to court.

Practical risks for Green Card holders

For current Green Card holders, the most pressing risks are clear:

• A later conviction for a listed offense can cost status even years after approval.
• Long absences abroad may be read as breaking residence if you leave for extended periods without proper permission.
• If officials later uncover false statements in the original file, time does not cure fraud.

The scope is wide. About 12.8 million people held Green Cards as of January 1, 2024, and the policy shift touches all of them. Scrutiny is highest for those with criminal records or suspected links to terrorism or violence, but the message reaches every household that depends on permanent residence for family life, schooling, and work.

Immediate steps Green Card holders should take

Simple, proactive steps can lower risk and help prepare families if a case is opened:

• Keep your record clean. Avoid convictions for listed offenses.
• Take travel seriously. Obtain proper reentry permission for long trips and keep records.
• Be honest on every application and interview. Fraud or misrepresentation is a top driver of revocation.
• Save paperwork. Keep copies of filings, approvals, and travel documents—they can help in court.
• Seek counsel early. If you get an NTA or other notice, contact an experienced immigration lawyer right away.
• Don’t rely on renewal alone. Submitting Form I-90 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-90) to replace or renew a card won’t resolve a revocation case.

Important warning:

If your Green Card is revoked or placed in removal proceedings, you cannot fix it by renewing the card. The plastic card is only proof of status. When status itself is in question, the fight plays out in court or through the agency’s rescission track—not via routine replacement forms.

Effects on travel, finances, and families

• Travel: Failure to maintain continuous residence can support revocation. Extended trips abroad, especially without reentry documentation, risk a review.
• Public benefits: Becoming a public charge can prompt fresh scrutiny of eligibility.
• Human cost: A status challenge can split families, halt careers, interrupt schooling, and destabilize employers who depend on permanent-resident staff.

The government stresses that due process remains and that the system must protect national security and benefit integrity. Critics worry the speed of action leaves less room for context, while DHS and USCIS emphasize security and program integrity.

What to do if you receive a notice

When a notice arrives, timing matters. Recommended steps:

1. Read the notice carefully and note deadlines.
2. Obtain legal help immediately.
3. Ask counsel to request the government file and evidence.
4. Prepare defenses—focus on factual records, permissions, and proof that the government cannot meet its burden.

Lawyers can advise whether the matter looks like a standard removal case or an administrative rescission attempt within the five-year window.

Where to find official guidance

Official sources and resources include USCIS policy updates, immigration court filings and notices, and legal aid groups that assist with removal defense. USCIS posts maintenance rules, travel cautions, and expectations on its website; see the agency’s page on maintaining permanent residence at https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-we-grant-your-green-card/maintaining-permanent-residence.

Key takeaways

• Continuous screening means eligibility can be tested after approval through court proceedings or administrative rescission when fraud or errors surface.
• There is no secret or automatic revocation. The government must give notice and an opportunity to be heard.
• The shift toward faster enforcement and fewer second chances increases urgency for Green Card holders to maintain compliance, document travel and filings, and seek counsel promptly if contacted.