US to Deport Green Card Holders, Foreign Students Under VP Vance’s Immigration Policy
In a move that signals the Trump administration’s hardline stance on immigration, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has reiterated that even legal residents, including green card holders and foreign students, could face deportation if deemed not in the country’s best interest.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Vance underscored that possession of a green card does not equate to guaranteed permanent residency, asserting that deportation numbers will increase as efforts to remove illegal migrants intensify.
“A green card holder doesn’t have an indefinite right to be in the United States,” Vance declared, suggesting that residency decisions could hinge on executive determinations. “This is not fundamentally about free speech. Yes, it’s about national security, but it’s also more importantly about who we, as an American public, decide gets to join our national community. And if the secretary of state and the president decide this person shouldn’t be in America, and they have no legal right to stay here, it’s as simple as that.”
His comments, however, raise serious concerns about the administration’s approach to immigration enforcement, particularly the potential for arbitrary or politically motivated deportations. Critics argue that such policies could undermine America’s reputation as a nation that upholds due process and legal protections for immigrants who have followed established pathways to residency.
Beyond green card holders, Vance also suggested that foreign students might be targeted for deportation if their presence is deemed counter to national interests. “I think we’ll certainly see some people who get deported on student visas if we determine that it’s not in the best interest of the United States to have them in our country,” he stated.
His remarks have sparked backlash from immigration advocates and education leaders, who warn that such policies could discourage talented international students from pursuing higher education in the U.S., ultimately harming the country’s academic institutions and global competitiveness.
Adding fuel to the controversy, Vance criticized the prevalence of foreign students at elite U.S. universities, alleging that they displace American students. “A lot of these foreign students, most of them, pay full freight. So sometimes what you have at elite universities like Columbia or Harvard is a well-qualified middle-class American kid from the heartland who doesn’t get a spot because some Chinese oligarch, who is paying $100,000 a year, takes up that spot,” he argued.
This claim, however, fails to acknowledge the significant contributions international students make to the U.S. economy and research sector. Many experts contend that foreign students enrich academic environments, foster innovation, and bring in billions of dollars in tuition revenue and economic activity.
As the administration pushes forward with its strict immigration policies, questions remain about the broader implications for America’s values, economy, and global standing. Will these measures serve the national interest, or will they erode the country’s reputation as a land of opportunity? The coming months will determine the full extent of this administration’s immigration agenda—and its consequences for both citizens and immigrants alike.
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US to Deport Green Card Holders, Foreign Students Under VP Vance’s Immigration Policy