Introduction to the "Trump Golden Card" Program
The administration of American President Donald Trump officially launched the "Trump Golden Card" program on Wednesday, aimed at allowing foreign nationals to quickly obtain a residence title in the United States in exchange for a significant amount of money.
Program Details
A government website offers those interested in applying for an accelerated visa application with the Department of Homeland Security, with a filing fee of $15,000. After a verification process, selected applicants must make a "contribution" - also described as a "gift" on the dedicated website - of $1 million to obtain this residence title, similar to the traditional "green card", which allows individuals to live and work in the United States.
Reaction from President Trump
"Roughly speaking, it's a green card, but better," said Donald Trump to journalists at the White House. "It's a more efficient way... It's something significant. We need to have great people," he added.
Expected Demand
According to the American Secretary of Commerce, some 10,000 people had already pre-registered during a specific window to obtain this golden card. Howard Lutnick expects many new applications. "Over time, I think we'll sell thousands of these cards and raise billions, billions of dollars," he said in a brief interview with Reuters.
Economic Impact
He added that this program would allow individuals who will have a positive impact on the American economy to enter the United States, distinguishing them from what he presented as "ordinary" green card holders - people with lower median salaries than Americans and often relying on public assistance. However, he did not provide any factual evidence to support his claims.
Immigration Policy
Since his return to power in January, Donald Trump has launched a massive crackdown on immigration. Hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants have been deported, while the White House has also taken measures to discourage legal immigration applications in the United States.
Alternative Immigration Path
The "Golden Card" program is Donald Trump's chosen option to offer an alternative immigration path, with the goal of allowing the US Treasury to generate revenue, following the same pattern as the customs duties implemented by the American president and presented by him as a success in terms of federal revenue.
Corporate Version
Howard Lutnick indicated on Wednesday that there is also a version of the "Golden Card" for companies, which allows them to hire foreigners in exchange for a contribution of $2 million per employee.
