Trump’s $5M Gold Card: How It Could Help The American Dream Of Indian Students In The US

In a bold move at his first full Cabinet meeting of his second term, President Donald Trump defended his controversial “Gold Card” proposal, which would grant residency and a pathway to citizenship for wealthy immigrants willing to pay $5 million. The initiative, touted as a tool to secure top talent from around the world, aims to help American businesses recruit graduates from elite institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Wharton.

A New Immigration Avenue

Trump explained that the Gold Card program would allow companies to “buy” the ability to hire the best international students—especially those from countries like India, China, and Japan—who have excelled in U.S. schools. He argued that current uncertainty over these individuals’ immigration status hampers recruitment, causing job offers to be rescinded. “These companies can go and buy a Gold Card, and they can use it as a matter of recruitment,” Trump said, adding that the program could begin in about two weeks.

Boosting the Economy and Cutting the Debt

According to Trump, the revenue generated by selling the Gold Cards could be used to pay down the national debt. He predicted that if one million Gold Cards were sold, it could raise as much as $5 trillion—a figure that has been met with skepticism by immigration experts, who caution that the pool of eligible, wealthy individuals is considerably smaller.

Replacing the EB-5 Program

The proposed Gold Card plan is expected to replace the existing EB-5 immigrant investor visa program. Under EB-5, foreign investors gain permanent residence by investing in U.S. businesses and creating jobs. However, Trump’s administration, represented by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, contends that the new proposal is more efficient and directly addresses the needs of American employers by ensuring that talent remains in the country.

Legal and Political Hurdles

While Trump insists that the Gold Card program is entirely legal, critics argue that significant legislative approval may be necessary to implement such a sweeping change. The proposal has drawn criticism for allegedly serving only wealthy immigrants, but the President maintained that the initiative would also help U.S. companies secure the nation’s brightest global talent.

As the debate unfolds, the administration continues to fine-tune the vetting criteria for the Gold Card, ensuring that only individuals who love and can contribute to the country will be eligible. With plans for the program to launch soon, both supporters and detractors are watching closely to see if this ambitious initiative will reshape U.S. immigration policy and boost the nation’s economy.