Green card holders are reportedly included in President Trump’s executive order to temporarily suspend immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Gillian Christensen, acting spokeswoman for the Homeland Security Department, said the executive order “will bar green card holders,” in an email to Reuters.
Reuters later explained further that exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
People who have green cards have been granted authorization to live and work in the U.S. on a permanent basis, according to DHS’s Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Trump signed two national security-related executive orders on Friday, one aimed at rebuilding the military. The other one suspended issuing visas to “countries of particular concern” and barred refugees from entering the U.S. for 120 days in order to give the Trump administration time to evaluate its vetting process.
Some critics on social media have complained that such a move would infringe upon the rights of green card holders.
According to CIS, the rights of these permanent residents are:
Live permanently in the United States provided you do not commit any actions that would make you removable under immigration law
Work in the United States at any legal work of your qualification and choosing. (Please note that some jobs will be limited to U.S. citizens for security reasons)
Be protected by all laws of the United States, your state of residence and local jurisdictions
