The initiative would replace standard labor certification with an earnings test as the primary path to a green card. Republican Senator Todd Young and former Senator Joe Manchin introduced a version of the plan in December 2024 with backing from AOL co-founder Steve Case and the Niskanen Center. While EIG continued to lobby for the program through 2026, some critics have highlighted that nearly 90% of the targeted counties are majority white, arguing the plan specifically targets those demographics.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Economic Innovation Group Proposes 100,000 Annual Heartland Visas for Rural US
US Politics15 days ago
Eligible foreign nationals could gain permanent residency in the US by moving to towns with shrinking populations under a proposed immigration program. The Economic Innovation Group, a think tank co-founded by former Facebook president Sean Parker, is calling for the creation of "Heartland Visas" to bring at least 100,000 workers annually into roughly 1,700 eligible counties. These areas, home to 58 million residents, include rural communities and former industrial centers where workers could live while being employed by companies located elsewhere.
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