Articles Posted in Foreign Travel

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For most green card holders, returning to the United States after a vacation feels like a routine part of travel. But in 2026, that return can sometimes come with unexpected problems.

In recent months, some green card holders have been taken to secondary inspections, questioned, and even detained at U.S. airports.

In these cases, the issue is not the vacation itself, but something in the traveler’s immigration history, criminal record, or time spent outside the country that gets flagged by Customs and Border Protection.

In this article, we’ll break down the top 3 reasons green card holders can run into trouble when returning to the U.S., along with 5 airports where travelers should be especially prepared for closer inspection.

The “Arriving Alien” Trap for Green Card Holders

One of the biggest risks for a green card holder returning from abroad is being treated as an “arriving alien” by immigration officers.

Normally, a lawful permanent resident returning from a trip is not considered to be seeking admission to the United States. But under certain circumstances, CBP can do just that.

Once CBP treats a green card holder as an arriving alien, they can be required to prove they are still eligible to enter the United States under rules for people seeking admission.

This matters because it can expose travelers to detention and removal proceedings and can make defending the case more complicated.

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Rising tensions in the Middle East amid the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran have triggered a collapse in regional air travel. Widespread airspace closures, airport shutdowns, and thousands of canceled flights have stranded travelers across major transit hubs such as Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi.

Among those caught in the disruption are thousands of green card holders and visa holders who left the United States temporarily and are now unable to return as flights remain suspended and regional travel remains restricted.

In this video, we discuss key steps the State Department recommends for permanent residents and other noncitizens currently stranded in the region.

75-Country Ban on Immigrant Visa Issuance

As a reminder, the Trump administration imposed an indefinite pause on immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries beginning January 21, 2026. Due to the pause, the State Department has suspended the issuance of all immigrant visas while it develops new procedures to assess whether applicants may become financially dependent on the U.S. government under the public charge standard.

  • Impact: While U.S. consulates may continue accepting applications and conducting interviews, they are currently unable to issue or print immigrant visas, including family- and employment-based green cards, for affected applicants until the new policy is implemented. This further complicates travel for immigrants residing in the Middle East, including Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, and Yemen.

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If you’re a U.S. Green Card holder, you might think your permanent residency means smooth sailing through Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after returning from temporary foreign travel. But 2025 has brought some surprising developments that remind every lawful permanent resident (LPR) to be extra cautious. These changes might sound a little crazy—but ignoring them could cause big problems at the port of entry.

New CBP Policy—Mandatory Data Collection Practice

Starting December 26, 2025, CBP will roll out a new policy mandating the collection of biometric data from green card holders and noncitizens upon their entry to and departure from the United States.

This new policy requires all noncitizens, including green card holders, to have their photograph taken and potentially provide additional biometrics (such as fingerprints, iris scans, or voice prints) when entering or exiting the U.S. via land, sea or airports.

The regulation is intended to strengthen border security, reduce travel document fraud and ensure more accurate records of departures and arrivals; however, it also raises significant privacy considerations as agencies will collect, store, and process biometric data from large numbers of individuals.

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