Fact check: What are the grounds for ICE to detain a green card holder in 2025?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, ICE can detain green card holders in 2025 on several grounds:

Criminal Records: The most prominent ground for detention is having a criminal record, even if the convictions are old and previously resolved. ICE and Border Protection are actively cracking down on U.S. Permanent Residents with long-resolved criminal records, leading to high-profile detentions and removals ^[1]. However, there are cases where attorneys argue that certain convictions do not meet the standard for deportable offenses under U.S. immigration law, which requires crimes involving moral turpitude ^[2].

Failure to Carry Documentation: Green card holders can be detained for failing to carry proof of their immigration status, which constitutes a federal misdemeanor. Lawful permanent residents who fail to comply with these legal requirements risk losing their immigration status and may face removal from the country ^[3]. ICE has issued warnings to green card holders, reminding them to carry proof of their immigration status at all times ^[3].

Unclear or Arbitrary Grounds: There are documented cases of green card holders being detained without clear justification. For example, Esther Ngoy Tekele was detained by ICE despite having a valid permanent resident card and no criminal record, with the basis of her detention remaining unknown ^[4].

Enhanced Enforcement Environment: The current immigration enforcement climate has intensified under the Trump Administration, which has taken actions to aggressively pursue removal of noncitizens and limit access to humanitarian forms of relief ^[5]. The Laken Riley Act has led to increased detentions overall, and the proliferation of 287(g) agreements allows state and local law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigration laws, potentially leading to more detentions of green card holders ^[6].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal several important contextual factors not immediately apparent in the original question:

Fear and Behavioral Changes: Green card holders are now afraid to leave the country, fearing they may not be allowed back in due to old convictions that may have been previously overlooked ^[1]. This represents a significant shift in how immigration enforcement affects lawful permanent residents.

Legal Standards and Disputes: There are ongoing legal disputes about what constitutes grounds for detention. Some attorneys argue that certain convictions being used as grounds for detention do not actually meet the legal standards for deportable offenses ^[2].

Broader Policy Context: The detentions are occurring within a broader framework of mass deportations and enhanced immigration enforcement, affecting not just undocumented immigrants but also those with legal status ^[4].

Historical Precedent: The current enforcement represents a departure from previous practices where old, resolved criminal records may have been overlooked for green card holders with deep community ties ^[1].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain misinformation or bias - it is a straightforward inquiry about legal grounds for detention. However, the question's framing as seeking "grounds" implies there are clear, established legal criteria, when the analyses suggest that:

• Some detentions appear to lack clear legal justification ^[4]
• There are disputes about whether certain grounds meet legal standards ^[2]
• The enforcement appears to be more aggressive and expansive than traditional interpretations of immigration law might suggest ^[1]

The question also doesn't acknowledge the climate of fear and uncertainty that has developed around these detentions, where even lawful permanent residents with decades of residence and community ties are being targeted for old, resolved criminal matters.