Staff Reports
In a bold move, former President Donald Trump has proposed a radical revamp of the EB-5 visa program, aiming to replace it with what he calls a “gold card” program. This proposal suggests that wealthy foreigners will be able to purchase a pathway to American green cards, allowing them to bring their money—and presumably their economic expertise—into the U.S. Trump envisions these affluent individuals as not just visitors, but as vital contributors to the economy who will be spending lavishly, paying hefty taxes, and creating jobs. It appears that the goal is not just to attract money, but to roll out the welcome mat for prosperous investors who might otherwise take their wealth elsewhere.
The EB-5 program, which has been described by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as a concoction of “nonsense, make-believe, and fraud,” currently allows individuals who invest $1 million in U.S. companies (that need only create ten temporary jobs) to gain a green card. It’s a low-cost ticket to U.S. citizenship that many view as far too generous. Designed to encourage a wave of investment mainly from foreign nationals, it has drawn serious criticism for lacking sufficient safeguards against exploitation. The hope is that the new Gold Card scheme will eliminate the fluff and offer a more robust alternative.
BREKING immigration 🚨:
Hey MAGA, what y’all thoughts?
Donald Trump says will start program to sell gold cards for $5 million to foreigners who want to come to US and invest. pic.twitter.com/09Fi30FhEk
— Mario 🇺🇸🇵🇱🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@PawlowskiMario) February 25, 2025
Under Trump’s proposal, the Gold Card would set the price of entry into America at a cool $5 million. While the details are still fuzzy regarding whether this is a per-individual price or a family package, what’s clear is that this new program would demand a far more significant investment than its predecessor. Skeptics may view this system as merely a method to cash in on citizenship, but it could also be seen as a step toward attracting genuinely committed individuals. After all, a hefty price tag suggests that these individuals would have some skin in the game when it comes to contributing to American society.
This proposal raises an important point: what does citizenship truly mean? The ability to secure citizenship through financial investment—especially when compared to the growing influx of poorer migrants—poses serious questions about the value of American citizenship. These wealthy investors are not just buying a green card; they are also buying the ability to safeguard their families and wealth from the unpredictable clutches of less stable governments abroad. It seems a fair trade-off—providing a protective shield while simultaneously providing a financial boon to American taxpayers.
However, creating this Gold Card program is not an overnight task. Trump cannot unilaterally bring this plan to fruition; Congress would need to get on board with this initiative first. And given that they recently restructured the EB-5 program to target investments in less affluent regions, bipartisan support for such an overhaul seems like a tall order. Yet, this new approach may just be what’s needed to redirect the flow of investment into the American heartland, benefiting both the economy and the citizens who call it home. While traditional methods have proven to be less than perfect, perhaps a shiny new Gold Card could bring a little more clarity—and financial prosperity—to America’s immigration landscape.
