Expert warns Green Card holders with asylum status not to ‘travel back…’

Recently, in the United States, several Indian citizens who normally hold H-1B visas and Green Cards were deported unexpectedly from the country or were detained in another immigration-related case, forcing the people to raise their voices against the immigration policies of the Donald Trump government. Immigration attorneys warn that returning to their home country could jeopardize asylum status, potentially leading to deportation and loss of legal residency. Bashu Phulara, an immigration attorney based in New York, told NepYork, “Asylum is granted because an individual demonstrates a well-founded fear of persecution in their home country.” “When someone voluntarily returns to that country, it raises red flags with U.S. immigration authorities. Why travelling back home could endanger your status Obtaining a Green Card after a year of asylum approval does not automatically secure one’s status indefinitely. “This could mean being forced to leave the country where they sought refuge.” To mitigate these risks, Phulara advises asylees and Green Card holders who must travel to “Use a Refugee Travel Document instead of a home country passport.” “The best way to protect your status is to seek legal counsel and weigh your options carefully,” Phulara concluded.