Trump’s immigration crackdown: Green card applications paused, international student detentions on rise – The Times of India

Recent reports highlight growing concerns over the increasing number of green card holders, international students, and other foreign nationals facing detention and deportation under the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement. Several high-profile cases involve individuals with long-term legal status or strong US ties being detained for reasons seemingly unrelated to criminal activity.
In a new development, the Trump administration has partially halted the processing of certain green card applications as part of a broader effort to strengthen immigrant vetting. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has directed officials to suspend processing requests for legal permanent residency submitted by immigrants who were granted refugee or asylum status, according to CBS News. Sources, who requested anonymity to discuss an unpublicized action, confirmed this move as reported by CBS News.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) later confirmed CBS News’ reporting, stating that the green card processing pause aligns with two executive actions issued by President Trump, as reported by CBS News.

International Students and Legal Residents Facing deportation

Alongside these policy shifts, multiple students have recently been detained or face deportation due to their involvement in political activism.
Mahmoud Khalil (Columbia University)
Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder and former Columbia University graduate student, has become a focal point in Trump’s immigration enforcement measures. According to reports, he was arrested under claims that his presence in the US was detrimental to foreign policy interests, raising concerns over politically motivated deportations. His case aligns with the administration’s broader crackdown on individuals linked to controversial political movements.
Tunseo Chung (Columbia University)
Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old legal permanent resident from South Korea, is facing deportation under the administration’s tightened immigration policies. Having moved to the US at age seven, she is currently enrolled at Columbia University and has participated in pro-Palestinian protests. The administration claims her presence undermines US foreign policy, similar to Khalil’s case.
On March 24, Chung filed a lawsuit against the administration. According to The New York Times, she was arrested during a protest at Barnard College, though she was not a leading figure. ICE officials also searched her university housing on March 13 as part of a broader criminal investigation into Columbia University, referencing the harboring statute in their warrant. While ICE has attempted to detain her, Chung remains free, and her lawyers have withheld her location.
Momodou Taal (Cornell University)
Momodou Taal, a dual citizen of Gambia and the UK., is also facing potential deportation due to his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests at Cornell University. According to court filings by his lawyer, ICE has ordered him to surrender himself.
In 2023, Taal and other activists disrupted a career fair at Cornell’s Ithaca campus in protest against arms manufacturers. Following this, Cornell barred him from in-person classes for the spring semester but did not expel him.
Rumeysa Ozturk (Tufts University)
Recently, US immigration authorities detained and revoked the visa of Turkish doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk at Tufts University near Boston for voicing support for Palestinians in Israel’s war in Gaza. The move has been condemned as an attack on free speech, though the Trump administration argues that some protests are antisemitic and threaten US foreign policy.
A video of the arrest shows masked and plainclothes agents taking the 30-year-old Turkish national into custody near her home in Somerville, Massachusetts, on Tuesday evening, as she was reportedly on her way to break her Ramadan fast, according to her lawyer.
US Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated in a post on X that authorities determined Ozturk had “engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans.” However, no specifics about her alleged activities were provided, as reported by Reuters.
These recent detentions reflect the administration’s aggressive approach to immigration enforcement, prompting strong criticism from civil rights groups and lawmakers. Advocates warn that these actions could have long-term consequences for academic freedom and international student participation in US universities. Protests and legal battles are expected to continue as detained students fight their cases in court.