President Donald Trump’s new $1 million “Gold Card” visa program has sparked a warning that it could be abused.
Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat, has said the visa plan, which offers a path to U.S. citizenship for $1 million after vetting, is illegal and accused Trump of “rolling out the welcome mat for Russian oligarchs and cartel bosses.”
Newsweek reached out to Durbin and the White House for comment via email.
Why It Matters
The plan would allow wealthy foreigners to secure U.S. residency in exchange for a $1 million investment.
It highlights the Trump administration’s dual approach to immigration: tightening traditional immigration channels while creating new, high-cost pathways. The administration is now using immigration as a revenue stream for those who can afford it, even as it moves aggressively to withdraw various protections that have allowed immigrants to remain in the country, including Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan migrants.
What To Know
The “Gold Card” program will allow foreign nationals who contribute at least $1 million to the Commerce Department to “receive U.S. residency” in record time after paying a processing fee and being vetted by the Department of Homeland Security, according to trumpcard.gov.
Corporations can secure residency for employees on an expedited path with a $2 million contribution.
The idea was first floated by the president in February and detailed in an executive order on Friday.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that the Trump administration anticipates issuing approximately 80,000 Gold Cards, although he noted that the program remains in the “implementation phase.”
Lutnick said it will replace the existing EB-1 and EB-2 visa categories, which currently provide green cards for individuals with “exceptional ability” in business and other fields.
The administration also announced a “Trump Platinum Card” for $5 million that will allow foreigners to spend up to 270 days in the U.S. without being subject to U.S. taxes on non-U.S. income.
That proposal, which does not include a pathway to citizenship, would require congressional approval. The trumpcard.gov website states that while the card “has not been released yet,” applicants should join the waitlist, as they will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Separately, Trump signed an order on Friday imposing a new $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas, which are used by tech companies and other employers to bring highly skilled workers to the U.S.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump, Friday on Truth Social: “Today we are proud to announce THE TRUMP GOLD CARD. The Card will be available for $1 Million Dollars for individuals, and $2 Million Dollars for Corporations. For far too long, we have had millions of Illegal Aliens pouring into our Country, and our Immigration System was broken. It is beyond time that the American People, and American Taxpayers, are benefitting from our LEGAL Immigration System. We anticipate THE TRUMP GOLD CARD will generate well over $100 Billion Dollars very quickly. This money will be used for reducing Taxes, Pro Growth Projects, and paying down our Debt.”
Senator Dick Durbin, on X: “President Trump’s illegal $1,000,000 ‘gold card’ visa scheme is a sham. We need a fair and orderly immigration system. We need to preserve our safety and maintain our status as a beacon of hope for the most vulnerable.”
Senate Judiciary Democrats, on X: “New ballrooms. Gilded Oval Office décor. Over-the-top foreign trips. A lavish Qatari plane. Now, an illegal $1,000,000 “gold card” visa scheme. Rewarding WEALTH over hard work and a love for America.”
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, wrote on Bluesky about the “Gold Card” program: “The FAQ posted online for this program claims that this would be an EB-1/EB-2 visa. That is EXTREMELY illegal. Those visas are, by law, ONLY for people with ‘extraordinary’ or ‘exceptional’ ability, or advanced degrees (MAs or PhDs) who are being hired by an American business.”
He added: “To drive this point home, if anyone were to get a green card through this program, a future administration would be entirely within their rights to strip the person of their legal status and deport them.”
What Happens Next