President Trump announced a $5 million “gold card” program offering U.S. residency and a pathway to citizenship, explicitly stating that Russian oligarchs could apply. While applicants would undergo vetting, no country restrictions were specified. This initiative contrasts with previous administrations’ tougher stances on Russian elites and current immigration crackdowns. The announcement comes amidst Trump’s recent conciliatory actions towards Russia, including direct talks and potential resource deals.
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President Trump announced a new $5 million “gold card” program offering a path to U.S. citizenship for wealthy foreign investors, replacing a previous program. This initiative, revealed alongside Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, would potentially allow Russian oligarchs to apply. Trump suggested that despite reduced wealth, many could still afford the application fee. The program’s eligibility criteria remain unclear, but the President expressed openness to Russian oligarch participation.
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Phoebe Dong received a 41-month prison sentence for her role in the USA Happy Baby scheme, which facilitated birth tourism for over 100 pregnant Chinese women seeking US citizenship for their children. Dong and her husband, Michael Liu (also sentenced to 41 months), were convicted of conspiracy and money laundering, having coached clients on deceiving US customs officials. Despite Dong’s emotional plea citing her personal experiences and hardships, the judge denied her request to serve her sentence after Liu’s. This case highlights the ongoing debate surrounding birthright citizenship in the United States and forms part of a larger crackdown on birth tourism operations.
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Donald Trump has pledged to end birthright citizenship, a policy he believes is based on a misinterpretation of the 14th Amendment, by issuing an executive order on his first day back in office. This plan, which would require at least one parent to be a citizen or legal resident for a child to be considered a U.S. citizen, is likely to face legal challenges as it directly contradicts the amendment’s text. While the Supreme Court has never directly ruled on the issue, most legal experts believe the amendment’s language clearly grants citizenship to anyone born in the U.S., regardless of their parents’ immigration status. The proposal’s implementation would also be complex, requiring federal agencies to verify the immigration status of both parents, which may not always be readily available.
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The situation in Haiti has been described as dire, with Caribbean leaders calling for an emergency meeting to address the crisis. As someone who is deeply concerned about the state of our world, it is disheartening to see a country in such turmoil, where the basic necessities of life are scarce, and criminal elements run rampant. The comparison to Somalia is striking, highlighting the severity of Haiti’s plight.
The idea of a coalition of 20-30 countries coming together to support and fund the rebuilding of Haiti is an interesting one. It would take a concerted effort from the international community to bring stability and security to the country.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker