Melania’s Journey to the US
Melania Trump arrived in the US as a young model. She applied for and received a work visa in 2001, allowing her to work legally. Over time, she built a successful modeling career. Today, she serves her second term as First Lady of the United States.
Visa Debate Intensifies Amid Trump’s Immigration Policies
As the Trump administration pushes strict immigration reforms, Melania’s visa status has become a hot topic. One congresswoman now questions whether Melania even qualified for her visa.
Donald Trump made his tough stance on immigration clear during his campaign. Once in office, he signed multiple executive orders targeting undocumented migrants and called for massive deportations. He also cracked down on visas, including those for students. For instance, in June, he targeted Harvard’s student visa program and imposed travel bans on 19 countries.
The EB-1 Visa Controversy
In 2001, Melania received the EB-1 visa, often called the “Einstein visa.” This visa is reserved for individuals with “extraordinary ability” such as Nobel Prize winners, Olympic medalists, or top researchers. Yet Melania’s attorney said she entered on a tourist visa in 1996 and later obtained work visas with the help of model scout Paolo Zampolli.
This raised questions. How did Melania qualify for the EB-1 visa with no record of such awards or achievements?
Congresswoman Crockett Challenges Melania’s Visa
Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett grilled the issue during a House Judiciary Committee hearing. She criticized Republican lawmakers for ignoring visa scrutiny when it involves the president’s family.
“Integrity isn’t snatching lawful visa holders off the streets,” Crockett said. “It’s not revoking visas over social media posts. We have free speech in this country.”
Crockett acknowledged Melania’s modeling career but doubted she met the high standards for an EB-1 visa. “You need major achievements — like a Nobel Prize or Olympic medal. The First Lady has none of these,” she argued. She added, “Melania isn’t a top model like Tyra Banks or Cindy Crawford. It doesn’t take an Einstein to see the math doesn’t add up.”
Public Reaction and Previous Controversies
Melania has not responded to Crockett’s comments. However, social media users slammed the congresswoman, accusing her of jealousy.
This is not the first time Melania’s visa has faced scrutiny. Earlier in March, Congresswoman Maxine Waters suggested Trump should deport his wife while criticizing his immigration policies.
“We don’t know if her parents were documented,” Waters said. “Maybe we better just take a look.”
Your Opinion Matters
What do you think about Congresswoman Crockett’s claims on Melania’s “Einstein visa”? Share your thoughts in the comments below!