What the Columbia University Case Means for You

Let me start with my conclusion: A second passport just became more valuable than ever. If you have a path to one—take it. And don’t wait. Here’s why I say that...

On March 8, federal immigration authorities arrested a well-known activist who had played a leading role in Columbia University’s pro-Palestinian student movement in 2024. He is a US green card holder, married to an American citizen. The White House says the government intends to strip him of his green card and deport him as soon as possible.

Many people have strong views about the issues behind this person's detention. I'm not weighing in one way or another. That’s not what this is about.

Instead, I want to talk about the implications of this incident for US citizens traveling and living abroad. This was something I flagged in the run-up to the election last year.

There are three pathways to revoking a green card and deportation:

• When a person is arrested and convicted of a crime, including aggravated felony, fraud, theft, domestic violence, drug offenses, or treason.

• If they lied or defrauded the government when they applied for the green card.

• When the US Secretary of State designates a person as a national security threat.

The first two are subject to constitutional due process and work through the court system. The green card holder gets a lawyer, and a judge decides the case.

Under the third pathway—the one in this case—the accused’s constitutional rights are bypassed, and the matter is handled internally by the Department of Homeland Security. There is no right to a lawyer, and the final decision is up to the Secretary of State. The courts play no role unless the accused sues the government.

Again, I'm not interested in the rights or wrongs of this individual's behavior. The point is that, on the face of it, without the government having provided evidence of a crime or charged him with one, it appears that the individual is being deported because of things he has said, which are protected under the 1st Amendment. Indeed, numerous statements by government officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, suggest this. That hasn’t happened since the 1920s.

Why should this matter to us?

I have said many times that if you are eligible for citizenship in a country where you live and that you love, you should apply for it. One reason is because permanent residency is insecure. Even if you've never experienced any problems, and the country shows no inclination to deport foreigners, that doesn't mean they will never change their minds.

The bottom line is that a permanent resident, like a green card holder, has limited rights. And if a government decides to do so, it can simply ignore the rights they do have for “national security” reasons. This is particularly true where governments are not transparent about such matters.

As I predicted might happen, this is quickly going beyond the theoretical. Many countries popular with Americans are beginning to react to the unpredictability of US policy, especially regarding immigration.

Mexico has recently applied full immigration procedures to Americans crossing the border to shop, etc., whereas before they accepted a driver's license. Canada is threatening to retaliate for new US alien registration requirements imposed on Canadians with US summer homes. The Costa Rican government is cracking down on “visa runs” by Americans who live there without permanent residency.

The United States has long been seen as the backstop for constitutionalism around the world. If this begins to change other countries will have an excuse to abandon their own commitment to due process. And they may start with Americans.

This is not an immediate threat by any means. But in addition to traditionally friendly countries imposing new conditions on Americans, not-so-friendly countries are beginning to justify their own misbehavior by referring to what’s happening in the US. Depending on how things play out, this could become an issue for many of us.

I’ve traveled to nearly 90 countries around the world, including many that routinely violate civil and political rights. I’m a 40-year expat who now lives in South Africa, a country in a full-blown diplomatic crisis with the United States. As a young lecturer at the University of Cape Town, my house was searched by security police, and for weeks, I lived in terror of having my permanent residency revoked.

In other words, I have deep personal experience in such matters. I really care about what happens to IL subscribers who live abroad. We’re living in a time of increasing global uncertainty.

If transitioning from permanent residency or any other status to full citizenship is something you're considering—as you should—don’t wait.