Trump’s Deportation Push: Can Green Card Holders and Students Stay in the U.S.?

The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown has zeroed in on green card holders and international students, stirring heated debate over who can stay in the U.S. and who faces deportation. While green card holders enjoy legal protections to live and work in the U.S. indefinitely, they’re not immune to the administration’s mass-deportation agenda. So, what does it take to lose that coveted green card?

According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, permanent residents must obey all U.S. laws, file taxes, and, for young men, register for the draft. They’re also expected to support America’s democratic system. Violating these rules—or specific provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act—can land them in deportation proceedings. Crimes like rape, murder, fraud, or aggravated felonies can trigger removal, as can actions threatening public safety or national security, per Berardi Immigration Law. But here’s the kicker: deportation isn’t automatic. An immigration judge must review the case, ensuring due process.

The case of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian green card holder and former Columbia University student, has thrust this issue into the spotlight. Arrested in March by ICE for allegedly leading Hamas-aligned activities during anti-Israel protests, Khalil’s case has become a lightning rod. The Department of Homeland Security labeled him a national security threat, and Senator Marco Rubio warned that Hamas supporters risk losing their green cards. President Donald Trump echoed this, calling Khalil’s arrest the “first of many.” Yet, Democrats cry foul, with Senate Judiciary Committee members slamming the arrest as “authoritarian” and an attack on free speech. A Louisiana judge greenlit Khalil’s deportation, but a New York federal judge has paused it, leaving him in limbo at an ICE facility in Louisiana.

Beyond green card holders, the administration is tightening the screws on student visas. The State Department is revamping its vetting process, including enhanced social media screenings for applicants, particularly those vocal about Palestine. Rubio revealed that thousands of visas have been revoked since January, up from 300 in March, emphasizing that a visa is a privilege, not a right. The State Department has even paused new student visa interviews to refine these measures.

This hardline stance reflects a broader tension: balancing national security with individual rights. The administration argues it’s protecting the homeland, but critics see a chilling effect on free expression. As legal battles like Khalil’s unfold, the nation watches to see how far this deportation push will go—and whether it will reshape America’s immigrant landscape.