First lady Melania Trump’s immigration journey just became the latest lightning rod in Washington’s endless culture wars.
During a heated House Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday,Democrat Rep. Jasmine Crockett took aim at Melania Trump’s 2001 EB-1 visa approval, while broader tensions flared over President Donald Trump’s stringent immigration reforms, as Newsweek reports.
Let’s rewind a bit — Melania Trump first arrived in the United States in 1996 on a tourist visa, later securing work visas as a skilled professional.
Melania’s early years in America
The future Mrs. Trump built a modeling career in New York City, gracing covers like British GQ and other notable magazines across the U.S. and U.K.
Her profile soared after meeting Donald Trump at a party in 1998, a connection that undeniably amplified her public presence.
By 2001, she secured legal residency through the EB-1 visa program, a category often dubbed the “Einstein visa” for its strict requirement of extraordinary ability or acclaim.
EB-1 visa under miscroscope
Crockett didn’t hold back, questioning how Melania qualified for a visa meant for Nobel laureates, Olympic medalists, or titans of science and arts.
She quipped, “Last time I checked, the first lady had none of those accolades under her belt.” Well, perhaps Crockett missed the memo that not every achievement fits neatly into a Pulitzer-shaped box.
Crockett pressed on, saying, “It doesn’t take an Einstein to see that the math ain’t mathin’ here.” Clever, but let’s remember that immigration law isn’t a simple arithmetic problem — it’s a labyrinth of criteria and discretion.
Contrasting policies, personal history
Interestingly, only five individuals from Melania’s native Slovenia received green cards via the EB-1 program in 2001, per State Department data reported by the Washington Post, which raises eyebrows about the exclusivity of her approval.
Meanwhile, President Trump’s administration has tightened the screws on visa programs, with a June 4 executive order targeting Harvard’s student visa policies over national security concerns and a broader visa ban affecting 19 countries later that month.
The hypocrisy angle isn’t lost here — while the administration ramps up social media vetting for visa applicants, Crockett argued, “Integrity isn’t snatching lawful visa holders off the streets.” Fair point, but integrity also means not cherry-picking personal histories for political theater.
Melania’s silence amid storm
Melania herself has stayed mum on Crockett’s remarks, maintaining a low profile since her husband’s second term kicked off.
Her recent public appearances include the U.S. Army’s 250th Anniversary Parade on June 14, alongside President Trump’s 79th birthday celebration, as well as events at the Kennedy Center on June 11 and the White House congressional picnic on June 12.
Her attorney, Michael Wildes, defended her in a 2018 statement to Newsweek, asserting that she was “more than amply qualified” for the EB-1 visa. That’s a strong rebuttal, and perhaps it’s time to let the paperwork speak louder than the podium.
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Author: Mae Slater
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