Golden Gateway or Political Gamble?
- From Green to Gold: President Trump’s administration is replacing the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program with a new $5 million “Gold Card” for foreign investors, providing a fast track to citizenship.
- A Boon for Big Business: Trump argues that major corporations, particularly tech firms, will help foot the bill to bring in high-level talent.
- Legal and Ethical Concerns: Critics warn that monetizing citizenship raises constitutional and ethical issues, echoing past controversies surrounding investment-based immigration programs.
By Samuel A. Lopez – USA Herald
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the immigration and business communities, President Donald Trump announced a controversial new initiative: the sale of $5 million “Gold Cards” that grant Green Card-like privileges and an accelerated path to U.S. citizenship. The program, set to launch in just two weeks, will replace the existing EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which allowed foreign investors to obtain permanent residency by funding job-creating projects in the U.S.
“We’re going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million, and that’s going to give you permanent resident privileges, plus it’s going to be a route to citizenship,” Trump declared during an Oval Office press conference. “It’s somewhat like a Green Card, but at a higher level of sophistication.”
The administration argues that the plan will attract only the wealthiest and most successful individuals—people who, according to Trump, will invest heavily in the American economy, pay substantial taxes, and create jobs for U.S. citizens.
Trump positioned the Gold Card as a superior alternative to the EB-5 program, which he and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick dismissed as “full of nonsense, make-believe, and fraud.” Lutnick emphasized that the new program will be “a way to get only high-level investors—people who will invest in America and help reduce our deficit.”
The administration predicts that a million or more Gold Cards could be sold, generating $5 trillion in potential revenue—a staggering figure that Trump claims will bolster the economy and create countless jobs.
Trump hinted that major corporations, particularly in the tech sector, will eagerly pay the $5 million fee to secure Gold Cards for top talent.
“Wealthy people will be coming into our country by buying this card,” Trump stated. “They’ll be successful, they’ll be spending money, paying taxes, and employing a lot of Americans. It’s going to be extremely successful and has never been done before.”
Silicon Valley has long struggled with securing visas for top international talent, and some executives are reportedly intrigued by the proposal. However, others warn that the policy could privilege wealth over merit and exacerbate economic inequality.
Critics argue that the program essentially puts American residency up for sale, raising serious ethical and legal questions.
“This is citizenship for the highest bidder,” said a spokesperson for the American Immigration Council. “We’ve gone from a merit-based system to an auction. What message does that send about American values?”
Moreover, the decision to terminate the EB-5 program entirely has raised concerns among stakeholders who argue that the longstanding program, despite its flaws, successfully facilitated economic development.
The idea of granting residency in exchange for investment is not new. The EB-5 program itself came under fire in 2017 when Jared Kushner’s sister promoted the program to wealthy Chinese investors, allegedly leveraging Kushner’s White House connections. Critics likened the move to “corruption, pure and simple.”
By eliminating the EB-5 program and introducing an even pricier alternative, the Trump administration is making a deliberate pivot toward a more exclusive, wealth-driven immigration system.
The administration plans to roll out the Gold Card program within the next two weeks. For now, the world watches as the United States prepares to open a new chapter in immigration—one that may redefine what it means to become an American.
