• Source:JND
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The Trump administration has intensified its crackdown on foreign nationals, particularly targeting Green Card holders and visa recipients under new hardline immigration policies. The latest developments have sent shockwaves through immigrant communities, especially among Indian professionals and students in the US, who now face the looming threat of deportation.

The controversy escalated following the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University, over his alleged support for the Palestinian cause during campus protests. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has linked his activities to Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation. Although a New York judge temporarily halted his deportation, Khalil’s legal status remains uncertain as federal agencies continue to review his case.

Trump Administration’s Hardline Stance

The administration’s position was made clear by Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Homeland Security Advisor to President Donald Trump. “No one has the ‘right’ to a visa or a Green Card. If you support terrorism, we don’t want you here,” he stated. Miller further emphasised that foreign nationals who express support for terrorist organisations would have their visas revoked as part of a broader “national security imperative.”

President Trump himself weighed in on Khalil’s arrest, using social media to celebrate the move. “ICE proudly apprehended and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student on the campus of @Columbia University. This is the first arrest of many to come,” he posted. The message signaled that further deportations could be imminent, putting many non-citizens at risk, including Green Card holders of Indian origin.

Indian Green Card Holders On High Alert

The growing deportation threats have caused unease among Indian immigrants, who form a significant portion of the US Green Card and visa-holding population. Many highly skilled Indian workers in the technology, healthcare, and finance sectors fear that the crackdown could extend beyond those accused of direct links to terrorism. Legal experts have warned that the broad interpretation of national security threats could put lawful residents at risk for minor infractions or political speech.

Civil rights organisations have also raised alarms, arguing that the administration’s measures are leading to racial profiling and undue targeting of immigrants. “This crackdown is not just about terrorism—it’s about reshaping immigration policy in a way that disproportionately affects minorities,” said an immigration advocate from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).