Overview of Warnings and Changes for Green Card Holders
Expanded Public Charge Test (Effective September 18, 2026): The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and USCIS expanded the public charge rule, allowing immigration officers to consider non-cash public benefits (such as Medicaid, food stamps, and housing vouchers) received on or after September 18, 2026, when reviewing applications or adjustments.
Travel Risks and Open Criminal Charges: Following recent legal interpretations highlighted by groups like the Immigrant Defense Project, green card holders returning from international travel with open criminal charges face a heightened risk of CBP (Customs and Border Protection) detention, questioning, and removal proceedings, as border officers may treat them as applicants for admission.
Adjustment of Status Restricions: A USCIS policy memo treats U.S.-based "adjustment of status" for temporary visa holders as an extraordinary discretionary relief rather than a standard pathway, directing more applicants to process through U.S. consulates abroad.
General Travel and Residency Scrutiny: Advocacy groups such as the National Immigration Law Center warn against continuous absences over 180 days, pressure from border officers to sign Form I-407 (relinquishing status), and misunderstandings of rights during secondary inspections.