A Green Card Once Meant Protection: Now it is Fear

By Fotios E. Meimeteas

Imagine you are a single mother in the United States, raising four children who depend on you. You have established a new life, built a home, paid taxes, and lived in the United States for nearly a decade. Yet, the green card that once resembled protection for you and your kids now evokes anxiety and panic.

On May 21, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services implemented changes that could change the status of individuals applying for a permanent resident card. Under the new policy, many people cannot apply for a green card while remaining in the United States. Instead of adjusting their status, many applicants are forced to return to their home country to apply, which creates new risks.

Additionally, applicants could face a three to ten-year ban creating relentless fear for immigrant families who want to build a life.

What does it mean to adjust status?” According to the American Immigration Council, adjusting status is a process for individuals who live in the United States, to gain access to permanent residency or a green card.

Historically, obtaining a green card has remained a lengthy process; however, before stricter laws, it was considered somewhat faster to apply from within the United States. Prior to President Trump’s term, non-U.S. citizens had several ways to apply for legal status. One common way was to marry someone who is already a U.S. born citizen. Another way you could have applied for a green card is by applying inside the United States. Whether arriving for work, school, or anything that you may need, many applicants were living in the United States while waiting for approval. Around this time, many families did not have to worry as much about being deported by ICE; instead, they were more concerned about receiving their documents.

My own mother’s personal story is a powerful example of how changes like these can impact families. 20 years ago, my mom immigrated to the United States from Brazil seeking a better life for herself and her children. When I was in kindergarten, my mom worked undocumented, moving from job to job to survive. She did not know anybody and spoke no English, which affected her process of becoming a U.S. citizen. During the time my mom was applying for a green card, it was known to be somewhat of a faster but harder process to live in the U.S. Unlike now, it is certainly much harder and scarier for individuals who want to become citizens. I cannot even imagine if my mother were to apply now; we would have been completely paralyzed by fear if this new policy were to be applied back in the 2000s.

As fear continues to spread, a report from the American Immigration Council highlights information regarding the new green card policy and who it affects. “However, many questions remain unanswered; what will happen to people who have already filed green card applications? Who will face the most scrutiny, and whether groups of non-citizens will, in practice, be categorically denied the chance to apply for green cards in the United States.” As detailed below, there have been questions regarding those who have applied for a green card in the United States; however, there tend to be tensions for those who have already applied for a green card. What could it mean? In addition to the following evidence, many people have feared that they may be deported or not be able to come back to the United States if they apply in their home country.

To conclude, the new policy that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services enforced significantly affects the immigrant community and those who are green card holders. Many families who did not have fears before are now struggling with new regulations that block approval. No individual or group should ever be forced into a legal trap. If we continue to set regulations that determine one’s status, the single mother who has built a home while building a family will be forced to leave. Immigration policies should protect families, not tear them apart. For future solutions, the United States should enact laws that protect immigrant statuses instead of replacing them with ones that affect one’s freedom.