U.S. to revoke green cards of Nigerians and others with criminal convictions

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), alongside the Department of Justice, has intensified its enforcement efforts under a new “Catch‑and‑Revoke” policy, emphasizing that green card status is not permanent. Non-citizens—including those from Nigeria—who commit serious offenses risk losing their lawful permanent residency, regardless of how long ago it was granted.

Key points:

USCIS has publicly warned that permanent residency can be revoked “if an alien breaks the law,” citing convictions for violent crimes, support for terrorism, or other serious legal violations.

The “Catch-and-Revoke” initiative, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and supported by the DOJ, establishes a one-strike policy: any qualifying criminal offense can trigger immediate revocation, without prior warning or an appeal process.

Even longstanding green card holders—who might have lived in the U.S. for decades—can be affected. The DOJ has argued that the Attorney General holds the authority to revoke permanent resident status at any time.