What should noncitizens and citizens carry to prove status during immigration stops in 2025?
Executive summary
Practical preparation in 2025 requires different documents for citizens and noncitizens: U.S. citizens should carry a passport or REAL ID-compliant state ID for federal purposes, while noncitizens should carry the specific immigration document that proves their current lawful status (green card, visa with I‑94, employment authorization document, or an approved USCIS notice) and be aware that biometrics and device inspections are expanding at U.S. ports of entry and inland encounters [1] [2] [3] [4]. Legal guidance and government notices show rising enforcement and biometric collection, but the exact officer requests and local practices can vary, so preparation means both carrying primary documents and knowing where to get legal help quickly [3] [5].
1. What laws and agency rules are changing the landscape for stops and verifications
The Department of Homeland Security and CBP finalized a major rule in late 2025 that authorizes collection of facial biometrics from virtually all noncitizens at entry and exit points, and that program is being rolled out to airports, land and sea ports—meaning identity verification increasingly relies on photographs (and in some cases fingerprints) in federal systems [3] [4] [6]. Separately, USCIS and DHS policy shifts and enforcement campaigns in 2025 emphasize enhanced screening and registration obligations for certain noncitizens, even as agencies note registration documents themselves do not create immigration status or benefits under the INA [7] [8]. These two facts together mean officers may use biometrics plus documentary evidence to confirm status, and people should assume checks may be more frequent or technical than in prior years [3] [7].
2. Core documents noncitizens should carry to prove lawful status
For noncitizens with lawful permanent residence, the single most important document is the green card (Form I-551); other commonly necessary items include a passport and valid visa with the associated Form I‑94 admission record, a current Employment Authorization Document (EAD) if work authorization is the basis for presence, and any USCIS approval notices (Form I‑797) that show a pending or approved application—trusted legal guides recommend carrying the actual document that matches one’s legal claim during inspections [2] [6] [9]. Because agencies are auditing green cards for people from specified countries and collecting biometric confirmations at ports, carrying both the physical card and a matching passport or travel document is particularly prudent where travel history or identity must be corroborated [6] [3].
3. What U.S. citizens should carry and why
U.S. citizens cannot be deported, but encounters can still be disruptive; a passport or a REAL ID-compliant state driver’s license serves as rapid proof of citizenship for federal officers and for boarding domestic flights or entering federal facilities [1] [3]. CBP’s rule notes citizens may voluntarily undergo biometric checks and those images are deleted quickly, but carrying conventional proof of citizenship remains the most straightforward way to end a status inquiry [3].
4. Practical tips, limits and digital risks during stops
Carrying originals is best; copies and screenshots can help in emergencies, but originals are what officers and biometric systems validate against—legal resources and immigration law firms emphasize keeping current cards and notices available and organized [2] [5]. Travelers should also be aware that border officers have broad authority to question and may request access to electronic devices during inspections, so privacy-conscious preparation and legal counsel contacts matter—public reporting notes officer requests for device access at ports of entry [4]. Where the reporting is silent, there is no definitive national checklist: local policies, the type of encounter (border vs. interior), and evolving agency directives will shape what an officer asks to see [3] [8].
5. If documents are lost, expired, or contested
If primary documents are missing or under review—such as EADs with changing validity periods or green cards subject to targeted review—official guidance stresses obtaining replacement documents from USCIS or carrying proof of filing/receipts (Form I‑797 receipt notices) and contacting counsel immediately; agencies have also publicized changing EAD and fee rules that complicate timing, so documented proof of an application or extension can be critical while adjudication is pending [9] [10] [5]. Reporting does not provide a single “failsafe” strategy for every jurisdiction, so reliance on up-to-date counsel and trusted immigrant advocacy organizations remains essential [1] [2].