Washington (Rajeev Sharma): The Trump administration has introduced a controversial immigration pathway that allows affluent foreign nationals to secure expedited U.S. residency—provided they are willing to pay a steep entry price. The programme, branded the “Trump Gold Card,” quietly went live this week, creating what critics describe as a pay-to-enter track alongside the administration’s broader crackdown on immigration.
Hosted on the new government portal Trumpcard.gov, the programme invites applicants to begin the process by submitting a $15,000 processing fee to the Department of Homeland Security. Once preliminary screenings and background checks are completed, candidates are required to make a $1 million payment, listed interchangeably as a contribution or gift, to qualify for the special visa.
President Donald Trump promoted the initiative as a premium alternative to long-standing residency channels, positioning it as a superior version of the traditional Green Card.
“This is a better, stronger path,” Trump told reporters. “We want exceptional people who will contribute in meaningful ways.”
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said interest has been “immediate and significant,” revealing that roughly 10,000 individuals placed their names on a pre-launch list. He projected that the programme could attract many more.
“Over time, I expect we’ll issue thousands of these cards and generate billions of dollars,” Lutnick said.
Lutnick also argued that the Gold Card would draw individuals he believes are more likely to fuel economic growth. He contrasted them with typical Green Card holders—asserting, without citing figures, that ordinary immigrants tend to earn less than U.S.-born workers and are more likely to have family members using public assistance.
The debut of the initiative comes as the administration continues to implement sweeping enforcement measures against undocumented immigrants and enact policies that make legal immigration tougher. Against that backdrop, the Gold Card stands out as a premium lane for those with substantial financial resources, effectively creating a distinct tier of immigration based on wealth.
Businesses are also being courted. The programme includes a corporate Gold Card option, allowing employers to obtain accelerated visas for employees by making a $2 million payment per worker.
Supporters see the scheme as a revenue-generator for the federal government; critics argue it widens inequality by turning residency into a commodity. For now, what’s clear is that the administration has opened an unprecedented—and costly—new doorway into the United States.
