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What is the legal process for deporting U.S. green card and visa holders?

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Summary
Nutrition label

80% Informative

Some of the highest profile examples of attempted deportations are people who have legal permission to be in the U.S. Columbia University graduate and pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil was detained by immigration authorities.

Immigration experts say the government must show proof to deport a green card or visa holder, but the process can be lengthy.

Visa holders can be deported for reasons including crime and fraud, if they overstay their visa or if they work without authorization.

Immigration law experts had differing opinions about whether the Trump administration has followed the legal processes to deport legal permanent residents or visa holders in the U.S ..

But green card holders can be detained if officers suspect they are deportable. Visa holders can be denied entry if they refuse to answer questions. Your tax-deductible donation directly supports our mission. Support PBS News Hour today . Support Provided By: Learn more Support PBS News: Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm..

VR Score

79

Informative language

74

Neutral language

69

Article tone

formal

Language

English

Language complexity

63

Offensive language

not offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

not detected

Time-value

short-lived

External references

25

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mahmoud-khalil-trump-administration-deportation/https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/maga-meter-tracking-donald-trumps-2024-promises/promise/1617/carry-out-the-largest-domestic-deportation-operati/https://www.cliniclegal.org/resources/absences-are-too-long-and-how-cure-themhttps://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1227&num=0&edition=prelimhttps://www.aclu.org/cases/khalil-v-trumphttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/03/ice-german-tourist-detained-immigrationhttps://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/remarks-document-signing-ceremony-and-exchange-with-reportershttps://www.aclu.org/press-releases/court-rules-mahmoud-khalils-lawsuit-challenging-his-unlawful-detention-by-ice-should-move-forward-in-new-jerseyhttps://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/brown-university-rasha-alawieh-denied-entry-us-hezbollah/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/world/europe/us-france-scientist-entry-trump-messages.htmlhttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/yunseo-chung-columbia-student-south-korea-ice-deportation/https://www.politifact.com/article/2025/mar/26/ask-politifact-what-evidence-does-the-government-n/https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/clear_and_convincing_evidencehttps://www.lawfirm4immigrants.com/why-are-visa-and-green-card-holders-being-detained-and-deported/https://www.npr.org/2025/03/17/nx-s1-5329818/2-cases-boston-focus-immigration-crackdownhttps://www.aclupa.org/en/know-your-rights/know-your-rights-while-travelinghttps://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/georgetown-university-graduate-student-detained-immigration-authoritie-rcna197206https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2025/03/Khalil-Amended-Petition.pdfhttps://apnews.com/article/trump-free-speech-first-amendment-columbia-student-3d4c835a673a24b793b2b045405231e6https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/doj-says-mahmoud-khalil-didnt-disclose-involvement-palestinian-groups-rcna197745https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/19/trump-deportation-georgetown-graduate-student-00239754https://give.newshour.org/page/80037/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=PBSNewsMarchCampaignArticle&supporter.appealCode=R2503HW06000AAhttps://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2025/03/14/south-milwaukee-woman-deported-to-laos-is-stranded-with-few-options/82369691007/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/briefing/immigration-trump-constitution.htmlhttps://www.cnn.com/2025/03/18/us/rasha-alawieh-brown-university-wwk/index.html

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