In a controversial move, former U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced the launch of a new “Gold Card” for immigrants, priced at $5 million, offering a premium alternative to the traditional Green Card with a pathway to citizenship.
“We’re gonna be selling a gold card. You have a green card, this is a gold card,” Trump declared in the Oval Office while signing executive orders alongside Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. “Wealthy people will be coming into our country by buying this card. They’ll be successful, they’ll spend a lot of money, pay taxes, and create jobs.”
The ‘Gold Card’ initiative is set to launch in two weeks and, according to Lutnick, could replace the existing EB-5 visa program, which currently grants Green Cards to immigrant investors who invest in U.S. businesses. Under the new program, applicants would pay the U.S. government directly, supposedly helping to reduce the national deficit.
Trump suggested his administration would not need congressional approval to implement the policy, though details on its execution remain unclear. The move has already sparked debate over whether it prioritizes wealth over merit in the U.S. immigration system.