Two recent emergency Supreme Court Rulings have sent shockwaves through immigrant communities nationwide following the recent court decision to allow the Trump administration to revoke legal protections for more than 500,000 immigrants, many of whom have lived lawfully in the United States for decades.
Concerning the Portuguese immigrant community, according to the new Supreme Court Rulings, green card holders are now more vulnerable to deportation than ever before.
Many individuals who submitted fingerprints, addresses, and sponsor information to authorities as part of their legal status are now at risk of expedited removal, which allows for deportation without a court hearing, especially for those in the U.S. for less than two years.
However, naturalized immigrants who are U.S. citizens and have completed the full citizenship process are protected from deportation, with rare exceptions.
Under the current immigration new rulings, lawful permanent residents, including green card holders, can now face deportation for even nonviolent offenses, including minor infractions that occurred years ago. Legal residency no longer guarantees permanent protection unless one becomes a naturalized U.S. citizen.
A single legal infraction, even decades old, can result in removal proceedings under current laws, including family separation risks, even for legal residents with children born in the United States.
The new rulings, issued without detailed explanation, dismantled two key immigration safeguards, the “Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and humanitarian parole. These programs had shielded individuals from deportation due to war, political upheaval, or natural disasters in countries such as Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.
“This is the largest rollback of legal immigration protections in recent history,” said Karen Tumlin, Director of the Justice Action Center. “The Supreme Court has opened the door to mass deportations of people who complied with every legal requirement.”
Though the rulings primarily impact immigrants from specific countries, the implications are far-reaching. Portuguese green card holders, especially those with past legal issues, are urged to stay informed, seek legal guidance, and consider the benefits of naturalization.
Portuguese-American community organizations are encouraged to step up efforts to educate, support, and advocate for those who could be affected by the ongoing legal challenges.
Carolina Matos/Editor with PAJ/Staff
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How the Supreme Court Made Legal Immigrants Vulnerable to Deportation – The New York Times
