Immigrant Categories Safe from Deportation Under Trump

Under President Donald Trump's administration, at least nine categories of immigrants are formally recognized as legal residents who should not be subject to deportation. These categories include naturalized citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), non-immigrants on valid temporary visas, asylees, and refugees.

However, various executive and legislative actions have complicated these protections. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been reported to detain U.S. citizens during raids, despite them being protected.

The process for asylum seekers now takes between 10 and 12 years, leaving many in legal limbo. ICE is also permitted to make arrests inside immigration courts, adding uncertainty for pending applicants.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders are protected due to dangerous conditions in their home countries, with recent changes affecting TPS for Ukrainians and Venezuela. DACA recipients and humanitarian parolees are also included in the protections, although the Trump administration has indicated intentions to prioritize their removal once their status expires.