In an attempt to cut the U.S. deficit, President Donald Trump has developed a new economic incentive named the “Gold Card”. This gold card would cost about $5 million, making it only available to the wealthiest individuals from foreign countries. The card would serve as a pathway toward becoming a U.S. citizen while potentially replacing the current EB-5 Immigration Investor Visa program that allows foreigners to invest in impoverished areas. This new development only benefits foreign elites and is completely unfair to those who wait years for official U.S. citizenship.
The U.S. immigration system is already a complete disaster, and instead of improving the critical structure, Trump decided that putting a price on it would be better. This is the kind of business-centered behavior American citizens expect from the man who is running the country with only money in mind.
The current legal immigration system faces issues of decade-long waiting lines, restrictive quotas and limited visa categories. Creating something that solely benefits the “world-class citizens” targeted by the gold card proposal is unfair and unnecessary. The question of whether Trump is allowed to create this gold card is still in the air, considering he would need Congress approval for this new visa category.
This proposed $5 million gold card towards citizenship in the U.S. would potentially replace an existing immigration visa program, and it is unwarranted. Whether or not this will pass considering what Americans have witnessed over the past 43 days, such as the birthright citizenship executive order and the undoing of the Biden administration protections towards immigrants, this gold card may be all but impossible to make a part of the future.
These substantial immigration changes under the Trump administration have caused harm and instilled fear in so many. Adding a gold card to the list of absurd ideas Trump has come up with will cause even more chaos than Americans are experiencing right now. Not only will it cause chaos but it will not benefit or contribute anything to the U.S. economy
It is important for everyone to stay informed of current updates regarding immigration and to discuss the rights all citizens have in this country with one another because it can empower individuals to understand what legal protections they have and how to handle a situation where their rights can be challenged.
