A fresh debate on immigration has erupted following Vice President JD Vance’s remarks on the rights of green card holders, coinciding with US President Donald Trump’s proposed ‘gold card’ initiative - an immigration pathway for wealthy foreigners.
Green cards, or Permanent Resident Cards, grant foreign nationals the right to live and work in the US, but their status isn’t guaranteed indefinitely.
“A green card holder doesn’t have an indefinite right to stay in the United States,” Vance stated. “This isn’t about ‘free speech’ - it’s about national security and, more importantly, who we, as American citizens, choose to include in our national community.”
Under US law, green cards can be revoked due to criminal activity, prolonged absences, or violations of immigration rules.
Trump’s ‘gold card’ initiative, however, proposes a new approach—allowing individuals to buy the right to live and work in the US for a $5 million fee.
“We’re going to be selling a gold card,” Trump said recently from the Oval Office. “You have a green card - this is a gold card. For about $5 million, you’ll get green card privileges and a route to citizenship.”
Trump argues that the current immigration system forces top international talent—especially from India - to leave the US after earning degrees from elite universities.
“A student from India, China, or Japan attends Harvard or Wharton, gets a job offer, but then loses it because there’s no certainty about their ability to stay,” he explained.
The ‘gold card’ program would also allow companies to purchase residency rights to hire foreign talent, a move Trump claims could generate billions in revenue and reduce national debt. It is expected to replace the EB-5 investor visa, which currently requires job creation in the US for green card eligibility.
Data from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) highlights the significant role of Indian nationals in the US workforce - 72.3% of H-1B visas issued between October 2022 and September 2023 went to Indian applicants.
