A coalition of immigrants working with an academic labor union sued the government over the recently implemented gold card program. The plaintiffs explained the program limits visa openings for scientists, doctors, and other highly skilled professionals. The lawsuit is the first legal challenge to the gold card program.

Enacted in September 2025, the gold card program targets high-net worth individuals for an expedited pathway to permanent residency and citizenship. Program applicants must pay a one-million-dollar payment per individual. The government created a new website streamlining gold card registration too.

The plaintiffs explained the program prioritizes an applicant’s wealth over their merit. Additionally, its establishment bypasses Congress’ authority in establishing revenue channels for the U.S. government. The plaintiff explained the program violates the exclusive right of Congress to raise revenue, making it unlawful.

The government explained that nearly ten thousand people signed up for a gold card during the pre-registration period. Total revenue from the re-registration period equates to roughly one billion dollars per the government. These numbers only apply to December 2025. It’s unclear how much revenue the program brought in during January 2026.

According to the New York Times, the government explained that the gold card is merely a memento and not a visa document. This statement contradicts previous ones by the government which position the program as potential replacement for the EB-5 Investor’s visa. However, such a change requires Congressional approval beforehand.

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