A controversial new immigration pathway introduced by President Donald Trump is poised to go live within days. Known as the “Gold Card,” the initiative allows foreign nationals to secure permanent U.S. residency in exchange for a $5 million investment, according to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
The announcement marks a stark contrast to the administration’s aggressive stance on illegal immigration. While Trump has pushed for sweeping deportations, the Gold Card reflects a pivot toward encouraging legal, capital-driven immigration aimed at affluent global citizens.
What the Gold Card Offers and How It Works
According to Lutnick, the Gold Card website—trumpcard.gov—will begin accepting registrations from interested applicants within a week. While full details are still pending, the card is expected to grant lawful permanent residency and potentially include exemptions from U.S. taxes on overseas income, although such provisions remain legally uncertain.
Lutnick told Axios the program has already attracted 250,000 expressions of interest. He emphasized that applicants will be thoroughly vetted and are expected to contribute economically: “great people who are going to come and bring businesses and opportunity to America,” he said. “And they’re going to pay $5 million.”
The Trump administration projects that the initiative could deliver a substantial fiscal windfall. If 200,000 individuals purchase the card, it would raise $1 trillion in revenue, according to Lutnick.
He framed the Gold Card as a form of geopolitical insurance for the world’s wealthy: “God forbid something bad happens, you come to the airport in America and the person in immigration says, ‘Welcome home.’”
Legal Uncertainty and Bipartisan Pushback
While the administration insists the Gold Card can be implemented under existing executive powers, legal experts and lawmakers have raised red flags. Critics argue that issuing green cards outside the established immigration framework would likely require an act of Congress.
David Lesperance, a tax attorney and immigration expert, told Newsweek that any attempt to alter tax obligations for cardholders would demand a revision of the Internal Revenue Code.
“Not only is it impossible to make such a significant legislative change by Executive Order,” he said, “it is almost guaranteed that there will never be a sufficient number of votes in both houses to make such a change.”
On Capitol Hill, reactions have been mixed. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) described the initiative as “the ultimate merit-based immigration,” while Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) countered that wealth alone shouldn’t determine eligibility. “You don’t need to have $5 million in your bank account to build a successful company in America,” he said.
