Regulations proposed this week by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will threaten the legal status of thousands of permanent residents in the United States.

The proposed rule would require lawful permanent residents who received green cards with no expiration date to apply for and pay for new cards. USCIS estimates that the rule will affect about 750,000 permanent residents who received their green cards between 1979 and 1989.

If the proposed rule goes into effect in its current form, permanent residents would have only 120 days from the announcement of the final rule to apply for a replacement card. The proposed rule would require applicants, who received the old cards under previous rules that did not require an expiration date, to pay fees totaling $370 per person to obtain the new green cards.

In addition, after the 120 day period, USCIS proposes to terminate the validity of the older green cards that do not list an expiration date. While the government cannot terminate individuals' permanent resident status without placing them in court proceedings, failing to hold a valid green card is a violation of law that may result in a fine or imprisonment.

"This course of action is unacceptable because it would put thousands of law-abiding U.S. residents at risk," said Mary Meg McCarthy, director of the National Immigrant Justice Center.

In order to effectively issue new secure green cards without endangering U.S. residents, the government must:

• Extend the period of time allowed for permanent residents to renew their green cards.
• Inform immigrant communities of the requirements and deadlines through an aggressive public education campaign.
• Eliminate the renewal fees, which would be cost prohibitive to many immigrant families.

NIJC press release on proposed green card renewal regulations (August 2007)

USCIS press release (August 2007)

USCIS fact sheet (August 2007)

USCIS Q&A (August 2007)