When & Why a Green Card Can Be Revoked

Getting a Green Card changes lives. It offers stability, job opportunities, and a path to citizenship, yet the fear of losing that status can linger in the back of your mind. At N400 Harbor Immigration Law, we help families and workers across the country protect what they have built. This guide explains when a Green Card can be revoked and what steps you can take. It is for educational purposes only, not legal advice.

Our team focuses on immigration challenges that real people face every day. If something here raises questions about your case, reach out for a chat. Fast advice can prevent bigger trouble later.

Grounds for Green Card Revocation

A Green Card grants permanent residency, but it is not absolute. U.S. immigration law allows the government to take action in certain circumstances.

In plain terms, removal can happen if someone becomes deportable under the Immigration and Nationality Act, or if Green Card status was granted by mistake or fraud. The sections below walk through common triggers and what they mean.

Actions Leading to Green Card Revocation

Different actions can place permanent residency at risk. Some involve criminal convictions, others involve misstatements, long trips abroad, or national security concerns.

Criminal Convictions

Certain convictions can lead to deportation and the loss of Green Card status.“Aggravated felony” is a term in the INA that covers many serious offenses, including certain theft crimes with a one-year sentence, drug trafficking, and some violent crimes. A single case can change your life, even if a state court treats it as minor.

Other categories can also trigger trouble. Crimes involving moral turpitude, many firearms offenses, and most controlled substance violations are listed in INA 237. A narrow exception exists for a first simple possession of a small amount of marijuana, though every case needs careful review.

Common crime categories that often create deportability include:

• Aggravated felonies under INA 101(a)(43), such as fraud over a certain loss amount or burglary with a one-year sentence.
• Crimes involving moral turpitude within set time windows after admission, sometimes with a sentence threshold.
• Controlled substance offenses, including sale or distribution, and many possession cases.
• Firearms offenses, such as unlawful possession or sale under INA 237(a)(2)(C).

If you are arrested, speak with an immigration attorney before entering a plea. The right advice early can avoid deportability.

Immigration Fraud

Fraud or willful misrepresentation during the Green Card process can lead to revocation and removal. Officers assess truthfulness in forms and interviews, and verify documents against databases.

Scenarios that trigger problems include a sham marriage, false statements about work history, or hiding a past arrest. Marriage fraud has its own deportability ground, and misrepresentation at entry or adjustment can also be charged later.

If you believe there is a mistake in your file, act quickly. Correcting the record can reduce risk before a case escalates.

Abandonment of Residency

Abandonment is about the intent to give up residence in the United States. Long trips can be viewed as evidence of that intent, even if you never said you were moving.

Officers look at the whole picture, not just time abroad. Ties such as a U.S. home, close family here, steady employment, tax filings as a resident, and a reentry permit can help demonstrate that you maintained your life in the country.

Warning signs that raise abandonment questions include:

• Trips outside the U.S. longer than six months, especially multiple times.
• No active U.S. job, lease, or home ownership during travel periods.
• Filing taxes as a nonresident, or not filing at all, while holding a Green Card.

If long travel is unavoidable, get advice before leaving. A reentry permit can help, and keeping strong ties can make a real difference.

Security Risks

Activities that threaten national security can lead to revocation and removal. This includes terrorism, espionage, and assisting or joining organizations tied to terrorism.

These cases move quickly and involve serious evidence standards. If contacted by federal agents, seek counsel immediately.

Public Charge

The public charge deportability ground is rare for Green Card holders, yet it still exists. It generally covers someone who becomes a public charge within five years after entry, where the cause existed before entry, and the person cannot show otherwise.

Short-term use of many benefits does not trigger deportability. Long-term institutionalization at government expense and similar circumstances can be reviewed, and each case turns on specific facts and timing.

The chart below summarizes common grounds and practical responses you can discuss with counsel.

Use this table as a starting point, then get case-specific advice. Small facts often change the legal analysis.

Denaturalization

If a naturalized citizen loses citizenship for fraud or related reasons, their status can revert to permanent resident status or to the status held before naturalization. Once that happens, removal charges can follow.

Examples include hiding a serious criminal past during naturalization or joining a prohibited organization while under oath. Denaturalization is rare, but the consequences are heavy.

If you receive any notice about your naturalization being questioned, act fast. Responding quickly can help protect your rights.

The Revocation Process: What to Expect

Green Card revocation usually happens through removal proceedings in immigration court. The government files charges, and an immigration judge decides the case after hearing both sides.

Notice to Appear (NTA)

The process often starts with a Notice to Appear, which begins removal proceedings. The NTA lists the legal charges and basic facts the government plans to prove.

Typical NTA contents include:

• Your name, A-number, and alleged status or entry details.
• The legal grounds for removal under INA 237 or other sections.
• The date and place to appear, or a note stating that the court will send a seperate hearing notice.

Missing a hearing can result in an in absentia removal order. Keep your address up to date with the court and USCIS at all times.

Deportation Hearing

At the first hearing, the judge confirms the charges and your contact information. Later hearings address the merits, possible relief, and evidence.

Rights in removal court include the chance to hire a lawyer at your own expense, present documents, bring witnesses, and cross-examine. Relief can include cancellation of removal, adjustment with a waiver, asylum, withholding of removal, or CAT protection.

Organize your evidence early. Deadlines move fast, and strong packets help the judge see the full picture.

Appeals

If the judge rules against you, you can appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals. Some cases can then be transferred to federal court for legal issues.

Appeal deadlines are short. Filing on time preserves your rights and can pause removal while the case is reviewed.

Defenses Against Green Card Revocation

Defenses depend on the facts, the charge, and your history in the United States. The right strategy often blends strong legal positions with personal evidence that tells your full story.

Common defenses and relief options include:

• Disputing the government’s evidence, including the accuracy of records or the legal match of a statute.
• Showing you did not commit the crime as legally defined or that a conviction was vacated for legal error.
• Requesting asylum, withholding, or CAT protection if returning to your country brings risk of harm.
• Applying for cancellation of removal based on long residence and equities, where eligible.
• Seeking waivers such as 212(h), 212(i), or 237(a)(1)(H), depending on the ground and family ties.

No two cases are alike. A short consultation can reveal tools you did not know you had.

Safeguarding Your Green Card: Prevention Strategies

The best plan is to protect status before problems arise. Small steps now can avoid considerable headaches later.

• Follow all laws, and if arrested, ask criminal counsel to consult with immigration counsel before any plea.
• Keep strong U.S. ties, including a home, job, bank accounts, and resident tax filings.
• Limit trips abroad and use a reentry permit for extended travel, especially if work or family needs pull you overseas.
• Be truthful on immigration forms and at interviews, and keep copies of what you submit.
• Renew your Green Card on time, track deadlines, and respond to notices quickly.

If a mistake happened in past filings, do not wait. Correcting records can prevent bigger issues later.

Need Assistance with Your Green Card or Facing Revocation? Contact Us Today

At N400 Harbor Immigration Law, we are invested in your story and bring careful attention to every file. We help families, students, workers, and investors protect status and plan the next step toward citizenship. If you need steady guidance on a Green Card issue, reach out for a conversation.

Feel free to call 786-891-1309 or send a message through our Contact Us page. We welcome your questions, even the quick ones. Our goal is to protect your future in the United States through clear advice and steady advocacy.