It still rubs me the wrong way.
People are already allowed in under a similar program called the EB-5 visa. Many countries have similar type investor visas. Bring enough cash and invest in the local economy you get a green card ( or whatever it’s called in other countries). All Trump did was raise the price. $5 million, presumably to the treasury, and maybe (just guessing) more money into the economy. He calls it the Gold Card. As long as the people are well vetted and will invest in the US economy and labor force, I’m ok with it. Use the $5 mil to pay down debt, and then get them to invest in or start local businesses.
We already have something called the EB-5 visa. This will just take that basic concept and monetize it. As it currently stands, wealthy investors are eligible for green cards if they invest at least $1.5 Million in a business that creates at least 10 full time jobs that go to Americans or work authorized immigrants. The gold card takes that basic concept and adds a one time fee of $5 Million that goes directly into the coffers of the U.S. government.
It may sound like a radical idea but it’s really just a smarter version of an existing law.