President Donald Trump has introduced a new immigration plan, the Trump Gold Card, which would grant wealthy foreign investors a fast-track route to U.S. citizenship in exchange for a $5 million investment. The initiative, announced at a recent campaign event, aims to replace the existing EB-5 investor visa program and attract high-net-worth individuals to bolster the U.S. economy.
What Is the Trump Gold Card?
The Trump Gold Card is a proposed visa program that would offer permanent residency and a path to citizenship for foreign nationals who invest $5 million into the U.S. economy. This would replace the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which allowed investors to gain green cards with a minimum investment of $800,000 in certain areas.
Key Features of the Trump Gold Card:
$5 Million Investment Requirement – Eligible applicants must invest at least $5 million in U.S. businesses or projects.
Direct Path to Citizenship – Investors would gain permanent residency with a faster route to U.S. citizenship.
Focus on High-Net-Worth Individuals – The program is designed to attract billionaires and multimillionaires willing to contribute to the U.S. economy.
Elimination of the EB-5 Program – The current EB-5 investor visa would be replaced, ending its $800,000 minimum investment option.
Trump described the initiative as a way to reduce the national deficit, stating that the funds from wealthy immigrants would provide an economic boost without raising taxes.
Why Is Trump Introducing This Plan?
The Trump Gold Card proposal is being framed as an economic solution that would bring billions of dollars into the U.S. economy while also limiting immigration to only those who can financially contribute.
During his announcement, Trump stated:
"We are going to replace the broken EB-5 program with the greatest immigration system in history – the Trump Gold Card. If you want to become a U.S. citizen, you have to pay for it. No more freebies!"
The former president and 2024 Republican front-runner has long advocated for merit-based immigration, prioritizing economic value over asylum and family-based visas. The Gold Card would align with this vision by favoring wealthy business investors over other applicants.
Support and Criticism
Supporters Say:
The program could generate billions in investments, create jobs, and boost economic growth.
A streamlined investor visa could reduce fraud that plagued the EB-5 program.
It would help reduce the federal deficit without increasing taxes on Americans.
Critics Say:
The plan favors the ultra-rich while making U.S. citizenship unattainable for middle-class immigrants.
It prioritizes wealth over merit, potentially overlooking skilled workers and innovators.
There are concerns about national security, as some foreign investors could exploit the system.
Opponents argue that this proposal would turn U.S. citizenship into a commodity, allowing only the wealthiest to obtain visas, while ordinary immigrants struggle through lengthy processes.
What Happens Next?
The Trump Gold Card plan is still in the proposal stage and would require congressional approval to become law. If implemented, it would dramatically reshape the U.S. immigration system, favoring wealthy investors over family reunification and skilled worker visas.