From Green Card to Gold Card: Trump introduces new green card for foreigners in the U.S.

The President of the United States unveiled the new Air Force One card for the first time, claiming he was the first to have it.

On board Air Force One, Donald Trump surprised journalists by pulling out a striking golden card from his pocket. "Do you know what this card is?" he asked with a smile. "It's the Trump card, the golden card. I've had it for less than two weeks. Pretty exciting, right?" he commented in front of the cameras.

During the brief exchange with the press, the president joked about who was the first buyer. "Me. I don't know who was the second, but I was the first," he said before continuing his journey.

What seemed like a simple anecdote turned, minutes later, into an announcement with strong migratory implications. The Republican administration confirmed that it is a new permanent residency program for foreigners who meet a specific economic requirement, the highest ever proposed in the country's history.

The new golden card: an exclusive path to residency

Trump had announced in February that he planned to replace the EB-5 program, which granted residency to those who invested between $900,000 and $1.8 million in job creation. The "Gold Card," as it is officially known, goes much further: it will only be available to those willing to contribute five million dollars to the U.S. economy.

The government has ensured that this permit will have the same benefits as a Green Card, including the path to citizenship, although it has emphasized that "it is not about buying the American passport."

A selective measure in contrast to tightening migration.

The announcement comes amid a tough stance on illegal immigration. While promoting this initiative for millionaires, the Trump administration has drastically reduced irregular crossings at the southern border.

According to official data, unauthorized crossings dropped by 94% in March compared to the same month of the previous year. The official figure from the Border Patrol is 28,000 encounters, compared to over 256,000 in March 2024. "We have secured the border," said immigration czar Tom Homan. "Crossings have decreased by 96%."

Residence for the wealthy, deportation for the poor.

The contrast has generated strong criticism. While protections for vulnerable migrants are being removed, access to legal status is being facilitated for those who have millions to invest. For many, this millionaire residency card highlights the priorities of the current government.

Although the final regulations have not yet been published, the White House has indicated that demonstrating the legal origin of the money and the economic impact of the investment will be required. Creating jobs will not be required, as in the old EB-5 program.

A response to the fraud of the previous program?

The EB-5 program has been heavily criticized for corruption cases, fictitious real estate projects, and scams on investors. The Trump administration claims that this new card aims to prevent those mistakes and ensure a direct and verifiable impact on the economy.

The announcement has also had an impact among Florida Republicans, where there is a large number of Cuban voters. Many view with suspicion the facilitation of residency for foreign millionaires while protections such as humanitarian parole are eliminated or benefits for those who arrive regularly are restricted.

A model that benefits the wealthiest.

For now, the golden card remains surrounded by uncertainties. It has not been specified how many will be issued, nor if there will be an annual quota. It is also not clear if Congress will have to approve any part of the program or if it will be implemented solely through executive action.

What does seem evident is that the administration is opting for an elitist immigration model, where new residents will be selected not based on their professional or humanitarian merits, but on the size of their bank account.