Trump’s ‘Gold Card’ visa grants citizenship.
Former U.S. citizenship without requiring congressional approval. Traditionally, Congress holds the authority to establish immigration laws and determine qualifications for citizenship, making Trump’s proposal a potential legal and political challenge.
Trump has not provided specific details on how the “Gold Card” visa would function, but he suggests it would grant long-term residency with an expedited route to naturalization. His assertion that it would bypass Congress raises questions about the legality of implementing such a program through executive action alone.
The proposal aligns with Trump’s broader immigration stance, which has fluctuated between strict border control policies and limited pathways for merit-based legal immigration. Critics argue that any significant change to citizenship qualifications must go through legislative processes.
While Trump claims the “Gold Card” visa would attract highly skilled workers and investors, it remains unclear how it would be structured or whether it could withstand legal scrutiny without congressional approval.
Trump Proposes ‘Gold Card’ Visa with Path to Citizenship for $5 Million
Washington: Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he plans to introduce a new “Gold Card” visa program, which would offer a pathway to U.S. This initiative would replace the existing EB-5 investor visa program, which has been in place for over three decades.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump highlighted the potential economic benefits of the proposed visa, emphasizing that it would attract wealthy and successful individuals who would contribute significantly to the U.S. economy.
Replacing the EB-5 Visa Program
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick elaborated on the details of the plan, explaining that the new “Trump Gold Card” would officially replace the EB-5 visa within two weeks. The EB-5 program, established by Congress in 1990, was designed to attract foreign investment by granting green cards to individuals who invested at least $1 million in U.S. businesses, provided the investment created at least 10 jobs.
According to Lutnick, the Gold Card visa would significantly raise the financial threshold for investors while eliminating the loopholes and fraud concerns that have long plagued the EB-5 program. The Homeland Security Department’s Yearbook of Immigration Statistics reported that approximately 8,000 investor visas were issued in the 12-month period ending September 30, 2022.
A 2021 report from the Congressional Research Service highlighted ongoing risks of fraud within the EB-5 program, particularly regarding the verification of legally obtained funds. Lutnick claimed the new Gold Card visa would address these concerns while attracting a higher caliber of investors.
A New Path to Citizenship for the Wealthy
Unlike the EB-5 visa, which had specific job creation requirements, Trump did not mention any similar stipulations for the Gold Card. Instead, he suggested that the new visa would function as a premium green card, granting permanent residency and an eventual path to U.S. citizenship.
Trump also floated the idea of selling up to 10 million Gold Cards as a means to reduce the national deficit, stating, “It could be great, maybe it will be fantastic.” However, he did not clarify whether there would be any cap on the number of visas issued annually.
Legal and Political Challenges
One of the most controversial aspects of Trump’s proposal is his claim that the Gold Card visa would not require congressional approval. Currently, Congress is responsible for determining U.S. citizenship qualifications and setting immigration laws. Implementing such a significant change through executive action alone could face legal challenges.
Investor visa programs are common in countries worldwide. According to advisory firm Henley & Partners, more than 100 nations offer “golden visas” to attract wealthy individuals, including the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, Malta, Australia, Canada, and Italy.
Despite Trump’s confidence in the Gold Card initiative, the proposal is expected to face scrutiny from lawmakers and immigration policy experts. Critics argue that any major overhaul of U.S. immigration policy should go through the legislative process rather than being enacted unilaterally.
As discussions around the Gold Card visa continue, questions remain about its feasibility, economic impact, and potential legal challenges. Whether the program will move forward without congressional approval remains to be seen.