Experts advise against travel for asylum-status Green Card holders

Several Indian citizens with H-1B visas and Green Cards have recently been deported from the United States. This has raised concerns about immigration policies during the Trump administration. Bashu Phulara, an immigration lawyer in New York, spoke about the risks facing individuals with asylum status. He explained that asylum is given to those who show a genuine fear of persecution in their home country. Going back to that country can signal to U.S. immigration officials that the fear is no longer valid, which can lead to serious consequences, including loss of legal status or deportation. Phulara emphasized that returning home may suggest to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that an asylum claim was not valid, or even fraudulent. This could lead to a termination of asylum status. Even after getting a Green Card, an asylee's status is not guaranteed. If USCIS believes the individual did not truly need protection, their permanent residency can be revoked. Visiting the country they fled can further jeopardize their situation by questioning the credibility of their fear. To avoid these issues, Phulara recommends using a Refugee Travel Document instead of a passport from the home country. He advises that anyone in this situation should seek legal help and carefully consider their travel options to protect their status.