U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a controversial plan to replace the existing EB-5 visa program with a new “Gold Card” that would allow wealthy individuals to secure U.S. citizenship for a $5 million investment.
Trump criticized the EB-5 program for being inefficient and fraud-prone, proposing instead a high-value alternative that grants green card privileges and a direct path to citizenship. When questioned about eligibility, Trump acknowledged that even Russian oligarchs could qualify under the scheme.
The EB-5 program, established in 1990, has long allowed foreign investors to obtain green cards in exchange for job-creating investments in the U.S. However, Trump’s proposal aims to reshape the system by introducing a pay-to-stay approach.
Further details on the plan are expected in the coming weeks, but the announcement has already sparked heated debates on the ethics and implications of selling U.S. citizenship to the highest bidder.
