United States Vice President JD Vance has sparked fresh debate over immigration after stating that Green Card holders do not have an “indefinite right” to remain in the country, reiterating the Trump administration’s stricter stance on residency.
“A Green Card holder doesn’t have an indefinite right to be in the United States,” Vance said during an appearance on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle on Thursday night. “This is not fundamentally about free speech. Yes, it’s about national security, but more importantly, it’s about who we, as an American public, decide gets to join our national community.”
Green Cards, officially known as Permanent Resident Cards, grant foreign nationals the right to live and work in the US. However, Vance emphasised that this privilege is not a lifetime guarantee and can be revoked if deemed necessary by the government. “If the president and secretary of state decide someone should no longer stay, they have no legal right to be here—it’s as simple as that,” he asserted.
Immigration crackdown
Vance’s remarks come amid a broader crackdown on immigration under the Trump administration, which recently detained Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist and permanent resident.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has unveiled a new immigration proposal—the ‘Gold Card’ programme—which would allow foreign nationals to purchase the right to live and work in the United States for $5 million.
“We’re going to be selling a gold card,” Trump announced from the Oval Office. “You have a Green Card. This is a Gold Card. We’re going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million, and that’s going to give you Green Card privileges, plus it’s going to be a route to citizenship.”
The initiative aims to attract highly skilled workers, particularly from countries like India and China, by providing a fast-track option to permanent residency and citizenship. Trump argued that the current immigration system discourages top graduates from staying in the US due to visa uncertainties.
“A person comes from India, China, Japan, and other countries, attends Harvard or the Wharton School of Finance… they receive job offers, but the offer is immediately revoked because there’s no certainty about whether that person can stay in the country,” he said.
The ‘Gold Card’ programme is expected to replace the EB-5 immigrant investor visa and will allow both individuals and companies to purchase residency rights, potentially generating billions in revenue to help pay down national debt.
Green Card holders: Rights and responsibilities
According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Green Card holders have certain rights and responsibilities while residing in the United States.
Rights:
✔ Live permanently in the US – As long as they do not commit deportable offenses.
✔ Work in any legal job – Except for certain positions restricted to US citizens due to security concerns.
✔ Legal protections – They are protected by all US laws, including federal, state, and local regulations.
The debate over immigration policies continues to shape political discourse in the US, with the Trump administration pushing for stricter regulations while simultaneously introducing incentives for high-net-worth individuals to secure residency.
