Gee Scott: Green card holders have reason to worry about travelling while Trump is president
Mar 31, 2025, 4:00 PM
Some say green card holders should worry about traveling overseas with Trump in office. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Green card holders in the U.S. are feeling hesitant to travel internationally, following rising concerns that they may have trouble re-entering the country.
New York immigration lawyer Pouyan Darian recently said in a viral video that lawful permanent residents have the “absolute right” to return to the U.S. following international travel, but following certain comments from the Trump administration, Darian is now encouraging clients to hold-off travel, according to The Washington Post.
On “Seattle’s Morning News,” on KIRO Newsradio, host Charlie Harger spoke to Gee Scott, co-host of “The Gee and Ursula Show,” about anxieties around overseas travelers.
“My co-host, Ursula Reutin… became a citizen in this country in 1995,” said Gee. “I asked Ursula before coming in, ‘Hey, if you were a green card holder today, would you be nervous and have some concerns about travel?’ and she said, ‘absolutely.'”
Social media posts impacting green card status
RELATED STORIES
According to the Washington Post, there have been multiple reports and public social media posts claiming that legal permanent residents have been “interrogated” at border checkpoints in American airports, as well as pressured to “sign forms” that would renounce resident status.
“What is deemed to happen to you if you say something wrong, say something that is considered anti-government?” asked Gee. “Your green card today, it can be revoked, not if you committed a crime, but if you said this about that.”
Gee also referenced that cellphone data may now be looked at when considering a person’s residency.
According to the Associated Press, the Department of Homeland Security has proposed a policy that would require people to share their social media accounts when applying for immigration benefits.
“We’re already seeing a decrease in visitors from Canadians coming down South,” said Gee. “I’m curious as to what kind of impact this is going to have in 2026 with the World Cup.”
There are an estimated 12.8 million lawful permanent residents in the United States, according to the Washington Post.
Listen to “Seattle’s Morning News” with Charlie Harger weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. on KIRO Newsradio. Subscribe to the podcast here.
