What the world lost from the cancellation of the Green Card in the USA by Donald Trump

The decision of Donald Trump's administration to suspend the Diversity Visa program, known as the Green Card lottery, is significant not only for the USA but also for millions of potential migrants worldwide. The program, which since the early 1990s has embodied the idea of the American dream and equal opportunities, has effectively been put on hold with uncertain prospects for renewal. This is reported by the Migration Policy Office.

The formal reason for this move was the shooting near Brown University by a man who previously obtained residency in the USA through the lottery. At the same time, experts emphasize that the decision has a much broader political and systemic nature.

Green Card as a symbol of the American dream

As explained by the head of the NGO "Migration Policy Office", Vasyl Voskoboynik, about 20 million people worldwide applied annually for the lottery. This meant that for many, it was a real chance to change their lives without significant wealth, connections, or contracts with corporations. The program provided the opportunity for about 50 thousand people to legally move to the USA each year through a random, but multi-level selection process.

The Green Card held special significance for post-Soviet countries, particularly Ukraine, where in the 1990s, the USA was perceived as a symbol of stability amid economic crisis and lack of prospects.

Migration as a privilege, not an opportunity

Today, Washington's approach is changing. According to experts, the USA is increasingly demonstrating that migration is ceasing to be a social lift and is turning into a privilege for the chosen few. Instead of a lottery, the focus is shifting to paid and corporate mechanisms:

• purchase of residency for $1 million;
• Gold Card program costing $5 million;
• special schemes for companies that can pay for the relocation of high-class specialists.

Consequences for the USA and Ukraine

According to Voskoboynik, such a policy carries risks for the United States itself. The commercialization of migration may lead to the loss of talented but less affluent individuals who have historically played a key role in the development of the American economy and society.

For Ukraine, the suspension of the program means shattered plans for thousands of citizens, including those who have already won the lottery and were preparing for the final stage. In total, there are about 50 thousand winners worldwide, for whom the path to the USA is currently closed.

It should be noted that the USA has introduced mandatory photography and biometric control for all migrants.