From deportations to million-dollar visas: The two sides of Donald Trump's immigration policy and who gets to live in America

US President Donald Trump has made controlling migration one of the key elements of his presidency by promising stronger controls of borders, deportation of migrants en masse and stricter regulations on the work of foreign nationals. At the same time, he has created a mechanism for the influx of affluent foreigners to the USA, proposing an immigration program that is connected with investing $1 million into the country’s economy. It shows two opposite elements of Trump's immigration policy: decreasing the number of immigrants in the country and attracting those whom the administration considers beneficial for its economy.

As per a news report by BBC News dated 26 October 2026, the policies of President Trump during his second term have greatly affected the way to get into the US, from asylum applications and refugee admission to work visas.

The Gold Card program initiated by the government provides another way for rich individuals to gain entry into the country.


The result is an immigration system facing questions over who can enter America, which pathways remain open and how much economic considerations influence those decisions.

Trump's deportation drive expands as immigration rules tighten

Mass deportation was one of the key aspects promised by President Trump on his successful 2024 campaign. Since coming back to power, the Trump administration has continued conducting more enforcement activities and has focused on detention and policies aimed at preventing illegal entry.

According to BBC News, ICE arrests have grown significantly during Trump's second term. Information provided by the Deportation Data Project stated that the number of immigration arrests stood at almost 50,000 people in July 2026. The same dataset revealed that only 27% of those immigrants detained had a criminal background.

The figures highlight a distinction between the administration's stated emphasis on removing dangerous offenders and the broader population affected by enforcement.

Deportations have also accelerated. The BBC reports that at the midpoint of July 2026, ICE was deporting an average of 1,255 people each day, which was up from an average of 770 people per day towards the end of the Biden administration.

Border enforcement has undergone a similar transformation. The administration has restricted access to asylum procedures, deployed troops and increased pressure on Mexico to limit northbound migration.

However, the enforcement strategy has attracted criticism over its methods. A separate BBC report noted that immigration operations in American cities, including Minneapolis, had intensified public concern about the scope of the crackdown.

The Gold Card offers wealthy foreigners another route into America

While the administration has tightened several conventional immigration routes, it has also introduced a programme aimed at attracting wealthy applicants.

The Trump Gold Card, launched in 2025, provides immigrants with a streamlined process for obtaining their immigrant visa in return for a one-million-dollar financial commitment made by an individual. This financial commitment is doubled if the applicant is sponsored by a business organisation or the like.

The programme also involves administrative fees and remains subject to applicable immigration laws and security checks.

The White House has presented the initiative as a way to attract successful entrepreneurs, investors and businesspeople while directing money towards American commerce and industry.

The approach differs from the traditional employment-based routes used by foreign professionals. Rather than relying primarily on qualifications, employer sponsorship or a qualifying investment in a business, the Gold Card centres on a financial contribution to the US government.

According to BBC News, however, early uptake appeared limited.

According to the report, just one application was accepted by April 2026, and this raises concerns over whether or not the programme can successfully attract enough applications for the government’s expectations.

It should be noted that the programme has created an ironic contradiction with the overall immigration policy of the administration. Indeed, while there are increased barriers to entering for refugees and asylum seekers, rich people have been provided with another channel.

Skilled workers, refugees and families face a changing immigration landscape

The differences extend beyond deportations and the Gold Card.

The Trump administration has made several alterations to policies which affect individuals who wish to work in the United States.

For example, one significant alteration has been made to the H-1B visas that are commonly issued to technology firms and other businesses for recruiting highly qualified foreigners.

On September 18, 2025, President Donald Trump introduced a fee of $100,000 for any new H-1B visa, an issue that received considerable attention in India's technology industry.

As stated by BBC News, "registrations for H-1B visas dropped 40% this year," as per US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The reason behind this was that the new rules will dissuade low-wage registrations, thereby protecting American citizens. However, there has been criticism regarding whether such policy restrictions will actually bring about economic gains.

The refugee system has also contracted dramatically.

As per the BBC, the US granted refugee status to 16,292 people during the fiscal year 2026, of whom 16,287 were South Africans.

This contrasts sharply with 60,000 and 100,000 people being granted asylum in the fiscal years of 2023 and 2024, respectively, while Biden was president.

Furthermore, the current administration has also made efforts to revoke Temporary Protected Status from some groups, making the future uncertain for the immigrants.

Thus, through such actions, one can clearly see how different the process of immigration can be under the same administration.

For others with substantial financial resources, the Gold Card presents an alternative opportunity.

Trump's approach therefore raises a broader question about the future of legal immigration in America: whether access will increasingly depend on the administration's assessment of economic contribution, alongside nationality, security requirements and existing immigration law.