Key Takeaways
- Stricter deportation policies in 2025 lowered thresholds for offenses, expanded expedited procedures, and redefined “abandonment” for green card holders.
- Naturalization requires five years of continuous residency, passing English and civics tests, good moral character, and Form N-400 submission.
- USCIS reduced naturalization processing times to five months in 2024, easing access for green card holders amid heightened political uncertainties.
In recent months, many green card holders, who are lawful permanent residents of the United States, are rushing to complete their applications for U.S. citizenship. This urgency comes out of fear of potential changes in immigration laws, increased enforcement activities, and the uncertain political climate surrounding immigration in the U.S. These individuals are seeking the stability and security that naturalization can grant, given the growing sense of vulnerability that has affected millions within immigrant communities.
Why Are Green Card Holders Worried?
Green card holders enjoy lawful permanent residency, giving them the right to live and work in the U.S. However, this status is not permanent in some circumstances. Individuals can lose their green cards if they fail to adhere to certain rules, such as spending an excessive amount of time outside the U.S. or by committing even minor legal or administrative infractions. Adding to this is the uncertainty caused by changing immigration policies that could impact family-based immigration, deportation grounds, or the use of discretion by immigration officials. Thus, U.S. citizenship becomes the ultimate safeguard for many green card holders, removing these vulnerabilities entirely.
Recent events have only deepened these concerns. A federal court’s ruling in late 2024 overturning President Biden’s “Keeping Families Together” program, which had provided essential protections for family-based immigrants, left over 500,000 individuals in legal limbo. Although this ruling directly affected certain undocumented family members of U.S. citizens, the resulting ripple effects on immigrant neighborhoods heightened legal and emotional insecurity for lawful permanent residents as well. For green card holders, this decision served as a grim reminder that policy changes—whether immediate or indirect—can quickly destabilize even those who believed their legal footing was secure.
Additionally, new developments like the introduction of a controversial “gold card” program by President Trump in February 2025 have sent shockwaves through immigrant communities. This initiative allows wealthy foreign nationals to obtain permanent residency if they invest a minimum of $5 million in the U.S. Critics argue that such shifts prioritize the economically privileged over family or merit-based immigration pathways. These kinds of structural policy changes increase anxiety among green card holders, who worry about the future framework of U.S. immigration policy and how it might affect their paths to citizenship.
Stricter Deportation Policies Make Green Card Holders Feel Less Secure
Deportation is another pressing fear driving green card holders toward naturalization. In January 2025, sweeping changes to immigration enforcement regulations lowered the threshold for deportable offenses. Minor crimes—such as theft or failure to notify immigration officials of an address change—can now lead to deportation proceedings, leaving individuals who might otherwise have been safe at risk. Another significant issue is the broadened definition of “abandonment.” Spending too much time outside the U.S. could now be interpreted as giving up permanent resident status, even if the travel was for valid reasons such as family care or medical needs.
Even more alarming, the nationwide expansion of expedited deportation procedures allows Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to detain individuals without lengthy legal processes. Sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals, or places of worship, once considered safe from enforcement actions, are no longer fully protected. Such expanded authority has raised the stakes for green card holders who fear they might lose their legal status over misunderstandings or minor errors.
A highly publicized case involving Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian green card holder, demonstrates the potential vulnerabilities. Khalil was detained based on questionable accusations of political activities that were hastily labeled as threatening national security. While never formally charged with a crime, he now faces possible deportation. His situation illustrates the fears of many green card holders who believe their lawful status is more fragile than it appears.
The Benefits of Naturalization
Becoming a U.S. citizen offers several advantages over remaining a permanent resident. Most importantly, U.S. citizens cannot be deported except in very rare cases, such as immigration fraud during the naturalization process. Moreover, citizenship grants voting rights, allowing newly naturalized individuals to influence laws and policies. Citizens also enjoy expanded access to federal benefits, the ability to petition for more family members to immigrate to the U.S., and the opportunity to run for public office.
Green card holders pursuing U.S. citizenship through naturalization must meet some specific conditions. Most applicants must first satisfy a continuous residency requirement, which means they must live in the U.S. as green card holders for at least five years (or three years if their permanent residency is based on marriage to a U.S. citizen). During this time, they must also demonstrate periods of physical presence in the country and avoid actions that could be interpreted as abandoning their residency.
The citizenship process requires applicants to pass an English language test as well as a civics exam. These tests assess the applicant’s ability to communicate in English and their knowledge of American history and government. Applicants must also demonstrate good moral character, often evaluated through background checks for criminal activity or other concerning behavior. The application involves submitting Form N-400, paying associated fees, and attending a naturalization interview where applicants affirm their eligibility. At the conclusion of the process, candidates take an oath of allegiance to the U.S., officially becoming citizens.
Rising Naturalization Applications Amid Political Uncertainty
According to recent government statistics, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) naturalized over 818,000 individuals during the 2024 fiscal year, a slight drop from the previous year. Despite this minor decline, the growing desire for citizenship among green card holders is undeniable. Applicants are driven by fears of shifting laws and deportation threats as well as a desire to vote in upcoming elections. Many see naturalization as a way to participate fully in American democracy, a key factor motivating them before the 2028 presidential campaigns begin.
USCIS has made commendable progress in recent years by reducing processing times for citizenship applications. As of mid-2024, the average time for an application to be processed dropped to five months from the previous year’s seven months. This improvement has relieved some frustrations caused by backlogged forms, making it easier for eligible green card holders to access naturalization benefits.
The Impact of Naturalization Trends on Society
States with large immigrant populations, such as California 🇺🇸, Texas 🇺🇸, New York 🇺🇸, Florida 🇺🇸, and New Jersey 🇺🇸, remain at the forefront of naturalization efforts. Cities like Los Angeles, New York City, and Miami have seen the highest number of green card holders transitioning to U.S. citizens. However, in areas where voter suppression efforts or local collaboration with ICE remain concerns, naturalization becomes much more valuable, both as a personal solution and a form of political empowerment.
Naturalization strengthens communities by encouraging civic participation and fostering economic stability for families. Immigrant voices gain strength in public decision-making, ensuring better representation of their perspectives in American society. Meanwhile, the increasing numbers of naturalized citizens remind policymakers about the importance of compassionate and inclusive immigration systems.
Conclusion
The desire of green card holders to become U.S. citizens stems from both the goal of securing legal protections and the opportunity for greater social and political participation. Against a backdrop of shifting immigration regulations, heightened risks of deportation, and a politically charged environment, naturalization represents not just a status upgrade, but also a powerful declaration of identity and belonging. For millions of green card holders, the U.S. citizenship process is about safeguarding their lives and the futures of their families. By taking this step, they contribute not only to their personal well-being but also to the country’s democratic and cultural fabric.
For accurate and detailed information on the steps to U.S. citizenship, you can visit the USCIS official page for Form N-400 here. As highlighted by VisaVerge.com, understanding the nuances of this process is crucial for green card holders who seek certainty in increasingly uncertain times.
Learn Today
Green Card Holder → A lawful permanent resident of the U.S. allowed to live and work indefinitely under specific conditions.
Naturalization → The legal process by which a permanent resident becomes a U.S. citizen, meeting eligibility requirements like residency and tests.
Deportation → The removal of a non-citizen from the U.S. due to violations of immigration, criminal, or administrative laws.
Expedited Deportation → A fast-track removal process allowing deportation with minimal legal proceedings, often bypassing court involvement.
Good Moral Character → A requirement for naturalization, assessed by background checks to ensure behavior aligns with legal and societal standards.
This Article in a Nutshell
Why U.S. Green Card Holders Are Rushing to Naturalize
Amid shifting U.S. immigration policies, thousands of green card holders are pursuing citizenship for stability and security. Fear of stricter deportation rules and legal vulnerabilities drives the urgency. Naturalization not only safeguards against deportation but empowers immigrants with voting rights, ensuring their voices influence a future increasingly uncertain.
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• Border Official Seeks New Supreme Court Review of Birthright Citizenship Law
• Texas Senate Proposes Bill to Verify Citizenship for Voters
• Romania Plans New Rules to Tighten Path to Citizenship
• Can a Child of UK Citizenship by Descent Holder Claim Citizenship?
• Trump Administration Pushes Court to Weigh Limiting Birthright Citizenship
