Green cards, officially known as Permanent Resident Cards, grant foreign nationals the right to live and work in the United States.
Green cards, officially called Permanent Resident Cards, allow foreign nationals to live and work in the United States. However, holding a green card does not guarantee a person can stay in the country forever.
What JD Vance Said
Vice President JD Vance recently spoke about the rights of green card holders, saying, “A green card holder doesn’t have an indefinite right to be in the United States.” He added that the issue is not just about free speech but also national security and deciding who should be part of the American community.
US law allows the government to cancel a green card under certain conditions. This includes committing crimes, staying outside the country for too long, or failing to follow immigration rules.
Trump’s ‘Gold Card’ Proposal
Former President Donald Trump has proposed a new ‘gold card’ program. This plan would let foreign nationals buy the right to live and work in the US for $5 million. Trump explained, “You have a green card. This is a gold card… and it’s going to be a route to citizenship.”
Trump argues that many talented people—especially from India—struggle to stay in the US after graduating from top universities. “A student from India, China, or Japan attends Harvard or Wharton, gets a job offer, but loses it because their visa is uncertain,” he said.
Under this plan, companies could also buy gold cards to hire foreign workers more easily. Trump believes the program could bring in billions of dollars and help reduce national debt.
Impact on Immigration
If approved, the ‘gold card’ would likely replace the EB-5 visa, which requires foreign investors to create jobs in the US to qualify for a green card.
According to US immigration data, Indian nationals receive the majority of US work visas. Between October 2022 and September 2023, Indian applicants were granted 72.3% of all H1B visas.
This new debate highlights ongoing discussions about US immigration policies and who gets to stay in the country.
