Traveling or returning to the U.S. from abroad has become increasingly risky for some — even for people with valid visas and green cards.
In recent weeks, international tourists, visa holders and lawful permanent residents — also known as green-card holders — have been facing tougher scrutiny at airports and border crossings. The change comes amid a broader crackdown by the Trump administration to reduce both legal and illegal immigration to the country.
And as spring break trips and summer vacations draw near, stories of green-card and visa holders being detained have sparked new concerns about traveling.
Earlier this month, for example, Brown University urged its international staff and students to postpone any plans to travel outside the U.S. “out of an abundance of caution.” Canada, along with several countries in Europe, including Denmark, Ireland and Germany, have also updated their travel guidance for the U.S., urging their citizens to strictly adhere to U.S. entry rules or risk detention.
In a statement to NPR, Hilton Beckham, assistant commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), said, “Green card holders who have not broken any U.S. laws, committed application fraud, or failed to apply for a re-entry permit after a long period of travel have nothing to fear about entering and exiting the country.”
Immigration attorneys told NPR the riskiness of traveling abroad will be different for individual travelers, making it important for them to understand their rights and privileges before making travel plans.
Here’s what to know.
Get up to speed on your rights based on your status
There are generally three kinds of travelers who enter the U.S., according to Stephanie Gee, senior director of U.S. legal services at the…
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