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Fact check: Are lawful permanent residents with clean records being arrested by ICE when renewing green cards?
Checked on August 14, 2025
1. Summary of the results
Based on the available analyses, there is limited direct evidence that lawful permanent residents with completely clean records are being systematically arrested by ICE specifically when renewing green cards. However, the sources reveal a more complex picture:
- Lawful permanent residents with past criminal records are being detained by ICE, as demonstrated by the case of Sonny Lasquite, a Filipino immigrant and green card holder who was detained after 23 years in the US due to a prior criminal charge [1] [2]
- ICE arrests have increased among immigrants with no criminal history, with data from California showing this trend [3], though this doesn't specifically address green card renewal situations
- Wrongful detentions do occur, as evidenced by the case of Andrea Velez, a US citizen who was detained by ICE [4], highlighting the risk of errors in the system
- The sources indicate that lawful permanent residents with long-resolved criminal records are being arrested when reentering the country [5], but this relates to reentry rather than green card renewal processes
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
The original question lacks several important contextual elements:
- The distinction between "clean records" and resolved past convictions is crucial - many cases involve individuals with old criminal charges rather than completely clean records [1] [2] [5]
- Different scenarios of ICE encounters are conflated - the sources discuss detentions during reentry to the US, general enforcement operations, and policy changes affecting new applicants, but not specifically during green card renewal appointments [6] [7]
- Recent policy changes under the Trump administration have expanded immigration enforcement, potentially affecting various categories of immigrants including those seeking green cards through family members [6] [7]
- Administrative processes like Form I-90 for green card replacement have been extended to 36 months validity, suggesting systemic delays rather than targeted arrests [8] [9]
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original question may contain several problematic assumptions:
- Overgeneralization: The question implies a systematic pattern of arrests during green card renewals that is not clearly supported by the evidence provided in the analyses
- Conflation of different scenarios: The sources primarily discuss detentions during reentry, general enforcement operations, and policy changes, rather than arrests specifically during green card renewal processes [1] [2] [5] [7]
- Definition ambiguity: The term "clean records" may be misleading, as many documented cases involve individuals with resolved past convictions rather than completely clean histories [1] [2] [5]
- Missing nuance: The question doesn't acknowledge that increased ICE enforcement affects multiple categories of immigrants under different circumstances, not just those renewing green cards [7] [3]
Want to dive deeper?
What are the grounds for ICE to arrest a lawful permanent resident with a clean record?
How many lawful permanent residents have been arrested by ICE during green card renewal in 2024?
What rights do lawful permanent residents have during ICE encounters at USCIS offices?
Can ICE detain lawful permanent residents with clean records for minor infractions?
What is the process for lawful permanent residents to renew green cards without being arrested by ICE?