(Source: DailyCaller) Alabama Sen. Luther Strange, a Republican, has worked hard
to burnish his credentials as an immigration hard-liner, but he also profits from
an ownership in a company that recruits wealthy foreigners for a fraud-ridden
immigrant visa program. Strange, who is facing off against former Alabama Chief
Justice Roy Moore in a runoff election on Sept. 26, owns a 16 percent equity
stake in Sunbelt EB-5 Regional Center, a company that connects wealthy overseas
investors to development projects in the Southeast.
Strange’s connection to the company was first reported
Monday by Alabama Today, which obtained a copy of his financial disclosure
filing. Alabama state auditor Jim Zeigler confirmed the disclosure Tuesday,
revealing that Strange netted about $150,000 for for his role in recruiting
investors for a Birmingham Baptist hospital expansion. As the company’s name indicates, Sunbelt locates investors
for the EB-5 visa program, which was created in 1990 as a way to entice wealthy
overseas investors to pump money into job-creating projects in economically
depressed areas of the U.S. In return for their investment — $500,000 or
$1,000,000 depending on the location of the project — foreign nationals can
receive a fast-tracked green card for themselves and their families.
Dominated by Chinese nationals, the EB-5 program has been
particularly susceptible to massive fraud schemes. In the last two
years, recruiters and project developers in California, Chicago, New York
and Vermont have perpetrated eight- and nine-figure fraud cases. Bipartisan critics say the EB-5 program, which was
originally intended to boost economic development in needy communities, has
morphed instead into a cash-for-green-cards arrangement that channels money
into already prosperous areas. Democratic Sen. Diane Feinstein of California,
and Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, have gone so far as to co-sponsor a
bill to kill the visa program.
Throughout the Alabama runoff campaign, Strange has touted
his credentials as an immigration hawk, enthusiastically backing President
Donald Trump’s tough immigration enforcement policies. Strange introduced
legislation in May to force sanctuary cities to pay for the president’s
proposed border wall. “They can either follow the law, or fund the wall,” Strange
said at the time, according to Alabama Today. Despite the tough talk, Strange’s involvement with a company
that brokers applications for a controversial visa program opens the door for
opponents to question his intentions for immigration policy in Congress.
Zeigler, who has thrown his support behind Moore, said Tuesday that Strange’s
self-portrayal as an immigration hawk “is only talk.”
“He [Strange] did not put his money where his mouth is,”
Zeigler said in a statement about Strange’s EB-5 connections. “Luther Strange
is making big money off wealthy foreigners, enabling them and their families to
come to America, get legal, and compete against American businesses.” Strange’s campaign is pushing back against that
characterization, pointing to the senator’s support of immigration reform bills
such as the RAISE Act, which would cut green card numbers and implement
merit-based immigrant visa applications. “Luther agrees with the Trump administration that there are
serious concerns over the EB-5 visa program, which is not being used as
originally intended,” the campaign said in a statement to Alabama’s WHNT News
19. “It’s time for Congress to get to work on these issues. He looks forward to
working hand-in-hand with the White House on legislation like the RAISE Act
which would overhaul the program.” Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of
Kentucky, have endorsed Strange in the runoff election.