More than 51 years ago, many Vietnamese families paid dozens of taels of gold for a chance to escape Vietnam by boat through what was once called the “official departure” program. Many were cheated, robbed, separated from loved ones, or disappeared at sea. No one truly knows how many eventually reached refugee camps across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong before finally finding safety and a new life in America.
It was not until programs such as the Orderly Departure Program (ODP) and the HO program, beginning around 1979, that nearly half a million Vietnamese were able to legally resettle in the United States. Others rebuilt their lives in Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Those resettlement programs eventually ended after the United States and Vietnam normalized diplomatic relations.
At the same time, countless “boat people” continued fleeing Vietnam by sea or overland. During those desperate years, many Vietnamese painfully repeated a heartbreaking phrase:
“Either I will take care of my mother, or my mother will take care of me, or the fish in the ocean will take care of me.”
As the years passed, refugee camps gradually closed, and opportunities for asylum in third countries became increasingly difficult. Yet the desire to leave and seek a better future never completely disappeared.
Then, during the previous U.S. administration, millions of migrants from around the world spent enormous amounts of money traveling to countries in Latin America or Canada before making their way toward the United States. Many endured hunger, danger, violence, and even death along the journey. They came from Africa, Asia, South America, and the Caribbean — including Vietnamese migrants.
Others pursued different paths to America. Some entered paid sham marriages with overseas Vietnamese or foreign nationals to obtain immigration status. Some traveled to the U.S. to give birth so their American-born children could later sponsor relatives legally. Others arrived on tourist visas and overstayed, a practice commonly seen among people escaping authoritarian countries.
However, many who entered through these routes became undocumented immigrants. Under current immigration enforcement policies, undocumented migrants face detention and deportation. Even individuals who obtained green cards or citizenship through fraudulent marriages could face revocation of their immigration status and removal from the United States.
Today, the most traditional path to America remains family sponsorship — but even that process has become increasingly difficult. Since the beginning of this year, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented stricter requirements regarding family relationships and financial qualifications. Processing times have grown longer, and applications are more vulnerable to denial over technical deficiencies.
Still, the door to America may not be completely closed. A new pathway has emerged for those with substantial financial resources: the so-called “Gold Card” program.
The “Trump Gold Card”
According to the website TrumpCard.gov, wealthy applicants from certain countries may apply for legal U.S. residency through a new investment-based immigration pathway. If approved, successful applicants could relocate to the United States with their families without relying on family sponsorship or political asylum programs, both of which have become increasingly restrictive.
During testimony before Congress in late April, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that one applicant had already been approved through executive authority, while hundreds of other applications were under review. He explained that both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Commerce were involved in the screening and approval process.
According to reports, applicants must first pay a non-refundable application fee of $15,000. The next step involves contributing $1 million to the U.S. Treasury through the Department of Commerce. If approved, the applicant could potentially receive an EB-1 or EB-2 visa depending on eligibility and circumstances.
The article notes that this cost structure applies to one individual only. Additional family members would require separate fees and contributions.
The U.S. already operates the existing EB-5 investor visa program, which generally requires investments ranging from approximately $800,000 to over $1 million while creating at least 10 full-time American jobs. Through EB-5, investors may obtain green cards for themselves and their immediate families and establish businesses anywhere in the United States.
Reports also indicate that the first individual accepted into the “Gold Card” program may have been the founder and CEO of TP-Link Systems Inc., a networking equipment company based in California. TP-Link products are widely used in the U.S., although much of the company’s manufacturing takes place in China. Questions reportedly remain about how business ties to China could affect long-term immigration approval.
Platinum Card Option
In addition to the Gold Card, there are also discussions of a higher-tier “Platinum Card” program. Under this proposal, applicants would still pay the non-refundable $15,000 application fee, but contributions to the U.S. Treasury could reportedly reach $5 million. Early reports suggest participants may receive significant tax advantages during an initial trial residency period in the United States, although details remain limited at this time.
Rights, Responsibilities, and the American Dream
Whether people come to America through family sponsorship, refugee resettlement, investment programs, or wealth-based visas, the goal is often the same: a chance to rebuild life, pursue opportunity, speak freely, and create a better future for their families.
But living in America also comes with responsibilities — respecting the law, contributing to society, adapting to the culture, and participating in the country’s economic and civic life.
The idea that the “American Dream” simply means receiving government assistance, free housing, or lifelong benefits without contributing is increasingly unrealistic in today’s America.
For many immigrants — past and present — the American Dream has never been easy. It has always required sacrifice, resilience, and determination.
— Đức Hà–
Special contribution for HuuTri.org