A fresh wave of controversy has reignited around First Lady Melania Trump’s immigration journey, particularly her receipt of the coveted EB-1 visa, often dubbed the “Einstein visa”, in 2001. The debate was sparked during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on June 25, when Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett questioned how Melania, then a Slovenian model, qualified for a visa typically reserved for individuals with extraordinary ability.

The EB-1 visa is a prestigious US immigration category meant for individuals with “extraordinary ability” in their field. This includes Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, Oscar-winning actors, Olympic athletes, world-renowned academics, and top-tier business executives. The criteria are stringent and generally require extensive documentation of sustained acclaim, international recognition, and extraordinary professional achievement.

So when Melania Trump, then Melania Knauss, a fashion model from Slovenia, received the visa in 2001, many raised eyebrows, particularly because she was neither a globally recognised supermodel nor a recipient of elite professional awards.

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Political Flashpoint

During the hearing, Rep. Crockett criticised Republicans for their silence on the issue, contrasting Melania’s visa with President Donald Trump’s harsh immigration stance. “Since we’re talking about integrity,” Crockett said, “I’m confused as to why my Republican colleagues aren’t talking about the lack of integrity when it comes to the president’s family’s visas.”

Crockett’s remarks came shortly after Trump signed executive orders restricting visa access, particularly targeting students and immigrants from 19 countries. Critics say it exposes a double standard in Trump’s policies, promoting “merit-based immigration” while allegedly benefiting from leniency in his own family’s case.

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Melania’s Immigration Path

Melania arrived in the US in 1996 on a tourist visa, later obtaining work authorisation as a model. In 2000, she began her application for the EB-1 visa, which was approved in 2001. She married Donald Trump in 2005 and became a US citizen in 2006, later sponsoring her parents for legal residency, a process Trump has derided as “chain migration.”

Crockett’s critique drew both support and humor. Alex Nowrasteh, an immigration expert from the Cato Institute, quipped, “Not everybody could marry Donald Trump... that’s quite an achievement.” Crockett retorted, “You sure are right, I couldn’t have done it!”