Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on social media Wednesday that "American citizenship is not for sale" and vowed to crack down on birth tourism, a practice where individuals enter the U.S. with the intention of giving birth on American soil to secure citizenship for their child.
Rubio announced the formation of a task force aimed at ending what he described as the "heinous abuse of our nation’s laws." However, critics quickly highlighted a perceived contradiction with President Donald Trump's administration's own initiatives.
These critics noted the existence of the "Trump gold card," a program that offers lawful permanent residence to wealthy foreign investors. The program's website indicates that for a minimum investment of $1 million, applicants can secure permanent residency in a matter of weeks, bypassing the lengthy processing times and legal requirements typically associated with such applications. Holders of the gold card can later apply for U.S. citizenship.
Last year, Trump characterized the program as "the green card on steroids," with his administration reporting that it had already generated over $1 billion in revenue and had the potential to raise $1 trillion. As of April, only one individual had been formally approved through this program.