The United States has begun tightening exit tracking and travel scrutiny, triggering fresh anxiety among green card holders who spend long periods outside the country.
A few months ago, the Trump administration issued a clear warning: legal permanent residents who live abroad or remain outside the US for more than six months could be viewed as having “abandoned” their residency - risking loss of status.
The message has unsettled many immigrants who frequently travel in and out of the country.
Looking ahead to 2026, the administration is expected to harden immigration policies further. Legal immigration levels are set to shrink, deportations are projected to rise, and hiring H-1B workers may become tougher and costlier.
The National Foundation for American Policy estimates that projected legal immigration has already been cut by more than 600,000 during the president’s second term.
At the same time, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has stepped up exit tracking.
Using biometrics and other technology, officials are now closely recording when non-citizens leave the US and how long they stay away. This has made the earlier warning feel immediate and real for green card holders.
The impact is visible along the US–Mexico border. In Tijuana, just across from San Diego, many US citizens and green card holders had moved to take advantage of lower rents.
Now, many are returning to the US out of fear that extended stays in Mexico could jeopardize their residency.
Dulce Belén Reynoso Reyes, president of the Mexican Association of Real Estate Agents in Tijuana, told The Border Report that occupancy has dropped as Americans move back north, pushing rents down in Baja.
She said residents feel forced to leave despite much higher rents in the US, driven by fear of losing legal status.
Green card travel rules: what long stays abroad mean
Under current policy, a long stay abroad does not automatically cancel a green card. But it now triggers closer scrutiny at reentry.
If a green card holder remains outside the US for more than 180 days, they may no longer be treated as a routine “returning resident.”
Instead, CBP can process them as seeking “new admission,” allowing officers to ask detailed questions about where the person truly lives and whether the US remains their permanent home.
Since mid-2025, reports of secondary inspections at US airports have increased. Officers are checking whether travelers continue to file US taxes, maintain a home in the US, and hold a US-based job or business.
Legally, staying outside the US for more than one year without a reentry permit is still the point at which abandonment is presumed.
What if you must stay abroad longer than a year?
For those who expect extended travel, experts advise planning ahead. Applying for a reentry permit before leaving the US is widely seen as the safest option. The permit helps demonstrate intent to maintain permanent residency.
According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), residents who plan to be away for more than a year should apply for a reentry permit (Form I-131) before departure.
While it does not guarantee entry on return, it strengthens the case that the individual intends to continue living permanently in the United States.
With exit tracking tightening and enforcement rising, many green card holders are choosing caution; cutting trips short or moving back; to protect their status.