A national university faculty group is suing to shut down President Donald Trump’s “Gold Card” visa, arguing that the new, expedited pathway to permanent residency for wealthy foreigners is unlawful.
In a lawsuit filed Feb. 3 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and several foreign professionals say the program benefits rich applicants at the expense of “qualified, merit-based” candidates, such as scientists, engineers, and doctors.
The Trump Gold Card program, which formally went live on Dec. 10, 2025, was created by executive order and described by the president as a “green card on steroids.” Individual applicants must pay a nonrefundable $15,000 processing fee to enter the pipeline and, after clearing background checks, make a $1 million “gift” to the government. Employers can apply for a corporate Gold Card for workers by paying the same $15,000 fee plus a $2 million contribution per employee….
Lawsuit Challenges Trump’s ‘Gold Card’ Visa Program
