America First Standard #13: The “Gold Card” Visa is selling away American Citizenship
“With equal pleasure I have as often taken notice that Providence has been pleased to give this one connected country to one united people–a people descended from the same ancestors, speaking the same language, professing the same religion, attached to the same principles of government, very similar in their manners and customs, and who, by their joint counsels, arms, and efforts, fighting side by side throughout a long and bloody war, have nobly established general liberty and independence.” – John Jay, Federalist Paper #2
America’s Founding Fathers viewed American citizenship as a special, limited privilege. They did not believe that just anyone could become an America, and the earliest laws in our nation’s history echoed this sentiment. Unfortunately, this belief from the Founding Fathers is no longer shared by many of our nation’s politicians and policymakers.
Last week, the Trump administration announced an executive order with major implication for American immigration policy. So far in 2025, the White House has sought to crack down on the rampant illegal immigration issue in America (albeit in an unsuccessful manner). However, the Trump admin has also repeatedly supported policies that will permit mass legal immigration to America. For instance, President Trump publicly announced last month that SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND Chinese students will be permitted to study in the United States.
Well, the “America First” movement just received another massive blow in the battle to restrict mass immigration to the United States. In a recent press conference, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and President Trump unveiled the “gold visa” program. According to Secretary Lutnick, the “gold visa” program will replace the current EB-1 and EB-2 visa programs—which are employment/achievement-based visas.
The stated purpose of the “gold visa” program is to help the Federal Government pay down the $36 million National Debt and provide wealthy immigrants with a immediate path to permanent residency and United States citizenship. Each “gold card” visa will cost applying immigrants $1 million.
Here is an except from Trump’s executive order about the “gold card” visa program:
“Sec. 2. The Gold Card. (a) The Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall establish a “Gold Card” program authorizing an alien who makes an unrestricted gift to the Department of Commerce under 15 U.S.C. 1522 (or for whom a corporation or similar entity makes such a gift) to establish eligibility for an immigrant visa using an expedited process, to the extent consistent with law and public safety and national security concerns. The requisite gift amount shall be $1 million for an individual donating on his or her own behalf and $2 million for a corporation or similar entity donating on behalf of an individual.”
The immigration-restrictionist wing of the Republican Party and the MAGA movement have understandably criticized the “gold visa” program. Political commentator Steve Bannon and FAIR president Dan Stein are two notable opponents of this plot to sell away American citizenship to wealthy foreigners.
The United States of America is not an economic zone and not a playground for wealthy foreigners. The “gold card” visa program is a blatant “America Last” policy decision that prioritizes the interest of foreigners over the American people.
The “gold visa” program is nothing short of an insult to our nation’s ancestors and Founding Fathers. The Founding would be ashamed to see our President selling American citizenship to foreigners like a shameless salesman.
