At a May 2 briefing hosted by American Community Media, legal experts and immigration advocates sounded the alarm about increasingly aggressive border searches, the coercion of green card holders, and an unprecedented wave of student visa terminations—many of them tied to minor infractions or even unverified data.
As summer travel season approaches, anxiety is growing among immigrants, international students, and even U.S. citizens about what they may face at airports and borders. At a May 2 briefing hosted by American Community Media, legal experts and immigration advocates sounded the alarm about increasingly aggressive border searches, the coercion of green card holders, and an unprecedented wave of student visa terminations—many of them tied to minor infractions or even unverified data.
“This is not a time for panic,” said Zahra Billoo, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in the San Francisco Bay Area. “But it is a time to be prepared. The rights you don’t know you have, you won’t know to assert.”
Billoo shared a story that illustrates the tough choices some travelers now face. A Muslim student visa holder asked whether he should attend his wedding abroad. “It’s so hard to tell somebody to choose between the love of their life and their ability to continue their education in the United States,” Billoo said. The student delayed the wedding out of fear he wouldn’t be allowed back in.
U.S. citizens, Billoo emphasized, always have a legal right to reenter the country, but not necessarily a hassle-free experience. “They could hold you. They could question you. They could search your belongings. And yes, that includes your electronic devices.” Her key advice: disable biometric logins and never give law enforcement your phone password. “You can be forced to use your fingerprint or your face to unlock your phone. You can never be forced to turn over your password.”
For non-citizens, the risk is more severe. “Non-citizens do not have a right to reenter the country,” she said. “Every time they present themselves at a border, they are assessed for admissibility.”
Green card holders now face new vulnerabilities. “We used to tell green card holders they were safe,” Billoo said, “but that is no longer true.” The implications are especially critical in immigrant-rich areas like Houston, where international travel is a way of life for many families.
Xiao Wang, CEO of Boundless Immigration, highlighted troubling new cases where green card holders—especially elderly immigrants—have been pressured into signing Form I-407, which voluntarily gives up their permanent resident status.
“This is a growing concern,” Wang said. “People are being misled about the consequences of not signing or pressured to sign with ambiguous threats.” He explained that only an immigration judge can revoke a green card. “CBP officers do not have that power. But people sign these forms out of fear, confusion, and stress.”
He emphasized that travelers returning from trips longer than 180 days are especially at risk. “You can state clearly, ‘I do not wish to abandon my permanent residency,’ and request a hearing with an immigration judge.”
Richard Herman, founder of the Herman Legal Group, warned that modern technology is compounding the threat. “What’s different this time is the vast amounts of technology that can be deployed by an authoritarian government against us,” Herman said. He cited the use of AI to flag visa holders based on flawed or minor data—often without due process.
“We’re not here to create an alarmist mentality,” Herman said, “but it’s good to understand what CBP is allowed to do.” In 2023 alone, CBP conducted 41,000 electronic device searches—compared to just under 5,000 in 2015. And the data they collect can be retained for up to 15 years.
Even American lawyers have had their phones confiscated, raising serious questions about violations of attorney-client privilege. “This is unprecedented,” Herman said. “And it’s affecting tourism, business, and America’s global reputation.”
The fear is not abstract. Houston, home to one of the largest immigrant populations in the country and major institutions like the University of Houston, is deeply impacted.
Madhurima Paturi, founder of Paturi Law, shared that her office received over 300 calls in March and April from international students—many from India—who were suddenly informed that their F-1 student visas had been revoked, often for vague reasons like “criminal check.” Many had no criminal record at all.
“In less than three weeks, nearly 5,000 student visas were terminated,” Paturi said. “These were students about to graduate. Some had already bought caps and gowns. They couldn’t attend finals. Many self-deported out of fear.” She added that legal action has begun, and the Department of Justice has since stated ICE will restore the affected SEVIS records—but for many, the damage is done.
The speakers emphasized that while the chances of encountering problems remain statistically low, travelers must take steps to reduce risk. Recommendations include:
“This administration is not just experimenting with extreme vetting,” Billoo warned. “It’s building a playbook. And what we give up now won’t just come back later.”
