Americans decide who stays: US VP Vance sparks Green Card residency debate

US vice-president J.D. Vance has reignited the ongoing debate over immigration, asserting that holding a Green Card does not grant foreign nationals an indefinite right to stay in the country. Speaking on the Fox News show 'The Ingraham Angle', Vance stated that residency is subject to government discretion, highlighting that a Green Card does not provide absolute permanence.

“If the president and secretary of state decide someone should no longer stay, they have no legal right to be here — it’s as simple as that,” he remarked. He further emphasised that while national security is a concern, the broader issue is determining who is allowed to become part of the American community.

Amid these remarks, former President Donald Trump has unveiled a new immigration initiative — the ‘gold card’ programme — which aims to provide foreign nationals with an expedited path to permanent residency and citizenship for a fee of $5 million.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump described it as an upgraded alternative to the traditional Green Card, stating, “You have a Green Card. This is a gold card. We’re going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million, and that’s going to give you Green Card privileges, plus it’s going to be a route to citizenship.”

The proposed programme is positioned as a way to attract highly skilled professionals, particularly from nations such as India and China, who often face visa-related challenges despite being graduates of top US universities. Trump underscored how current immigration policies discourage international talent from remaining in the US, citing cases where companies rescind job offers owing to visa uncertainty.

He pointed out that the new initiative could provide certainty for such professionals, ensuring that top graduates from institutions like Harvard and the Wharton School of Finance are able to contribute to the American economy without bureaucratic hurdles.

The ‘gold card’ programme is expected to replace the EB-5 immigrant investor visa and could be available for both individuals and corporations willing to invest in securing permanent residency. Beyond facilitating immigration for skilled workers, the initiative is also projected to generate substantial revenue, potentially contributing to reducing the national debt.

Meanwhile, data from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reflects the increasing demand for US work visas, with Indian nationals receiving 72.3 percent of all H-1B visas issued between October 2022 and September 2023.

Green Card holders in the US continue to have defined rights and responsibilities under federal law, including the ability to live and work in the country, provided they do not engage in activities that could lead to deportation.

However, the latest statements from Vance and Trump’s new proposal suggest that the contours of permanent residency in the US may be shifting, potentially affecting millions of immigrants who have traditionally relied on green cards as a stable path to citizenship.