A Two-Tiered System

Right now, the U.S. still technically recognizes birthright citizenship, guaranteed under the 14th Amendment, but at the same time, it has created a backdoor system where wealth determines access. The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program is the clearest example: A foreign investor can get a green card—and eventually citizenship—by investing $800,000 to $1.05 million in a U.S. business that creates jobs. With legal fees, administrative costs, and other expenses, the actual cost is often several million dollars.

These visas are disproportionately granted to the ultra-wealthy, while working-class immigrants face years (or decades) of bureaucratic hurdles. This isn't just about investor visas. More and more, the U.S. is shifting toward a model where legal status is tied to financial privilege. Wealthy individuals from abroad can buy their way in, while millions of immigrants who have lived, worked, and paid taxes in the U.S. for years remain stuck in legal limbo.