The Trump administration has proposed changes to overhaul the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program, aiming to tighten oversight and expand anti-fraud enforcement powers.
The proposals also include eliminating paths that some foreign investors use to obtain green cards. Other proposals involve imposing new compliance requirements on regional investment centers, strengthening government scrutiny of funding sources, increasing monitoring of projects financed through the program, and granting immigration officials broader authority to revoke benefits when fraud or national security concerns are identified.
The program allows individuals who invest at least $1 million in American businesses that create jobs to apply for lawful permanent residence. Investors were initially able to qualify for the program if they preserved jobs at financially distressed companies rather than creating new employment opportunities.
However, the Department of Homeland Security stated that this provision was used in less than 1% of petitions and did not align with the program’s core objective of generating new employment.
The proposed rules also require increased scrutiny on cryptocurrency investments. According to the Department of Homeland Security, investors must demonstrate their digital assets were lawfully acquired and transferred. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reported that investors may be required to provide evidence documenting account ownership, transaction histories, tax records, and the conversion of digital assets into investment capital.
The new regulations include increased audits, site visits, and reporting requirements. USCIS stated that these measures are intended to reduce fraud risk and ensure compliance with immigration and securities laws. Nearly 10,000 individuals have received visas through the EB-5 investor program, accounting for 7.1% of employment-based immigrant visas.
By Sam Barron | Wednesday, 01 July 2026 04:43 PM EDT
