US govt warns green card holders to carry identification documents at all times

In a recent development, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a formal reminder requiring Green Card holders and all non-citizens aged 18 and above to carry their immigration documents with them at all times. The warning follows the enforcement of a Trump-era policy that has now been upheld by a US district court.

In its public notice, the CBP emphasised, “Every alien, eighteen years of age and over, shall at all times carry with them and have in their personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card issued to them. Failure to do so may result in a misdemeanor charge and fines if stopped by federal law enforcement.”

This includes lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders), H-1B visa holders, and other non-citizen immigrants, many of whom are Indian nationals working in the US tech and healthcare sectors.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) clarified that the policy originally stemming from the Alien Registration Act of 1940 has been revived and strict enforcement is now in place with no exceptions. The law was initially enacted during World War II to track foreign nationals within the country.

Legal experts and immigrant rights groups are advising all non-citizens to carry their immigration documents (such as Green Cards, Form I-94, or visa paperwork) at all times to avoid legal complications.