Washington: US Vice President JD Vance has ignited a fresh debate over immigration policies, stating that holding a green card does not grant immigrants the right to reside in the United States indefinitely. His remarks, made during an interview on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, came in response to the recent arrest of Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian green card holder. Khalil was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, allegedly for organizing pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia in 2024. Under US immigration law, the Secretary of State can order the deportation of individuals deemed a risk to American foreign policy, though legal experts argue that this provision is rarely enforced. Khalil’s lawyers claim that his arrest is an attempt to suppress political dissent, while his wife, Noor Abdalla, has called for his release, revealing that he had feared an ICE raid just days before his detention.

The controversy has intensified amid the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies, particularly concerning foreign nationals advocating for Palestinian rights. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced this stance by posting on X that green card holders and visa holders found to be supporting Hamas will face deportation. The Justice Department has not provided clear evidence linking Khalil to any extremist activities, but President Trump and his allies have publicly accused him of having ties to Hamas. Legal battles are underway, with a federal judge temporarily blocking Khalil’s deportation while reviewing the constitutionality of his detention. This case has sparked concerns among immigration advocates, who argue that it sets a dangerous precedent for silencing foreign nationals engaged in political activism.

Amid these developments, President Trump has introduced a new immigration proposal known as the ‘Gold Card,’ which would offer a fast-track path to US citizenship for those willing to pay $5 million. This initiative aims to attract top global talent and wealthy investors while generating revenue to reduce national debt. Trump has positioned the ‘Gold Card’ as a means to support American businesses by allowing companies to sponsor high-skilled workers from countries like India, China, and Japan. However, critics argue that this proposal creates a class-based immigration system that favors the wealthy while tightening restrictions on green card holders. As debates over immigration policies continue to dominate political discourse, cases like Khalil’s arrest highlight the growing uncertainties faced by immigrants living in the US.