PALM BEACH, Fla. (Diya TV) — President Donald Trump revealed the physical symbol of his new immigration plan: a $5 million “gold card” visa for wealthy individuals who want to become residents of the United States. The card, replete with Trump’s face, provides a road to citizenship for individuals who want to invest heavily in the U.S. economy.
Released at a press conference on the Air Force One aircraft, the “gold card” will substitute the current EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which demanded a $1 million investment and job creation within the U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphasized that more than 1,000 cards are already sold, and up to 37 million people worldwide might be able to pay for the visa. The government estimates that the sale of 200,000 such cards would earn $1 trillion, helping largely to pay down the national debt.
Design of the card includes features harking back to U.S. currency, including the term “United States of America” and currency-type numbers. President Trump, who boasted of being the first purchaser, expects the release of the card in two weeks.
Although the “gold card” does not grant immediate citizenship, it enables recipients to work toward it once they have met residency requirements. Lutnick stressed that applicants will be thoroughly vetted to make sure they are “wonderful world-class global citizens.
Critics have been concerned about the possibility of corruption and the ethics of profiteering from U.S. residency. Nevertheless, the administration has claimed that the program will draw in high-net-worth individuals who will invest in the economy, pay taxes, and create jobs.
This program is a major departure from U.S. immigration policy, targeting high-net-worth individuals to help spur the economy. The administration will unveil additional information on terms and eligibility requirements in the next few weeks.
