On July 23, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued an important reminder to green card holders through its X platform, stating that lawful permanent residents must always carry their immigration identification with them. Failure to carry these documents when intercepted by federal law enforcement could result in misdemeanor charges and fines.
The message on the “Important Reminder” on CBP’s X platform reads:
“All green card holders and lawful permanent residents over the age of 18 should carry and keep safe their issued Alien Registration Card or Alien Registration Receipt Card. Failure to present these documents when intercepted by federal law enforcement may lead to misdemeanor charges and fines. Even if you are not yet a U.S. citizen, please abide by U.S. laws.”
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated that this is a legal requirement, and the announcement is based on U.S. regulations under Title 8, Section 1304(e).
According to U.S. immigration law, non-U.S. citizens over the age of 14 staying in the U.S. for more than 30 days must carry their Alien Registration documents by law. These documents include:
– Green Card (Form I-551): This serves as the official identification for lawful permanent residents. It includes a personal photo, Alien Registration Number (A number), visa category, and expiration date. The green card acts as proof of permanent residence and work authorization in the U.S.
The A number is a unique 7-9 digit identifier starting with the letter “A” assigned by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for tracking immigration records.
– Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766): Commonly known as a work permit, this document is issued to non-U.S. citizens authorized to work temporarily in the U.S. It includes the A number, photo, and expiration date.
– Arrival/Departure Record (Form I-94): This document displays the entry of non-citizens into the U.S. and the authorized period of stay. For some visa holders, this document may contain the A number.
Immigration officials have explicitly stated that lawful permanent residents who violate the law or fail to comply with immigration regulations may face the risk of deportation. The reminder from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection emphasizes that having legal status does not exempt individuals from enforcement actions.
This warning comes at a time when the U.S. is intensifying immigration enforcement overall, continuing the federal authorities’ increasingly stringent practices of scrutiny towards green card holders.
For reference, please see the article from Dajiyuan on July 10:
Warning to Green Card Holders from U.S. CBP to Withdraw Legal Status
(Information referenced from relevant reports by the Indian “Economic Times”)