“Gold Card”: The New Immigration Program with Million-Dollar Donations Announced by Trump
President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order to create the Gold Card program, which will allow the expedited processing of immigrant visas for those who make substantial donations to the United States.
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Main Points of the Program
- The order instructs the Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security, to establish the Gold Card program.
- Under this initiative, individual applicants who donate $1 million, and those who do so through businesses or other entities that donate $2 million, may use that donation as proof of “exceptional entrepreneurial ability” to accelerate their immigration process.
- Donations will be deposited in the U.S. Treasury, and the funds will be used to promote American industry and commerce.
- In addition, the order requires the relevant Secretaries to establish application processes, fees, and possible extensions of the program to other visa categories.
Justification and Political Narrative
The White House claims that the previous administration’s immigration policies allowed abuses: drug trafficking, infiltration by malign actors, and misuse of the refugee system. The Gold Card responds to that narrative by prioritizing those who can demonstrate substantial financial contributions.
According to the administration, this measure redistributes immigration under the “national benefit” approach, incentivizing foreign investment and strengthening the domestic economy.
The program is expected to attract investors, entrepreneurs, and businesspeople who can contribute significant capital to the growth of the private sector.
Criticisms, Challenges, and Open Questions
- Fairness and suitability: To what extent should multi-million-dollar donations serve as the central criterion for receiving priority immigration status, instead of academic merits, special skills, or humanitarian need?
- Transparency of fund use: It is stated that donations will be used to stimulate industry and commerce, but there are still no specific details on how those resources will be distributed.
- Security and verification: The program must balance speed with rigorous security checks to prevent fraud or irregularities.
- Social and ethical impact: Some may see the program as a “sale of immigration privileges,” which could generate criticism regarding social justice.
- Future applicability: The order mentions the possibility of expanding the scheme to other visa categories, raising questions about its medium- and long-term scope.
What You Can Do if You Are Interested in This Program
- Closely follow how federal agencies develop the rules, fees, and specific requirements.
- Evaluate the feasibility of participating if you have sufficient resources and clear financial records.
- Seek specialized immigration legal advice to prepare for future requirements.
- Analyze how this program may (or may not) integrate with more traditional immigration pathways.
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