BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) has obtained monetary assist from a gaggle lobbying to develop a visa program identified to profit Chinese language nationals looking for entry into america, Federal Election Fee filings present.
Casey accepted a June 24 $5,000 donation from the Immigrant Buyers Affiliation/Put money into the USA PAC, which seeks to extend the variety of obtainable visas by way of America’s EB-5 immigrant-investor regional-center program.
Casey is the one 2024 Senate candidate to have accepted a marketing campaign contribution from IIUSA PAC, per FEC filings.
EB-5 visas supply everlasting American residency to foreigners who put money into “certified job-creating initiatives,” the Wall Avenue Journal reported final yr.
This system has led to “better curiosity from rich Chinese language looking for a approach out of their nation” as their economic system struggles and their authorities grows extra authoritarian, the WSJ famous.
Chinese language residents have traditionally constituted the most important nationality of these looking for visas by way of the EB-5 program.
Mainland Chinese language nationals scored 6,125 out of the entire 10,855 in fiscal yr 2022. Hong Kong acquired one other 142.
The State Division introduced Friday it had reached the restrict of EB-5 visas it may grant in fiscal yr 2024. Dependents of fortunate buyers are additionally given residence.
Paperwork from Commonwealth Strategic Companions — a DC bipartisan lobbying agency — present Casey was at a June fundraiser hosted by one IIUSA PAC lobbyist and attended by one other.
Each of the lobbyists, Commonwealth managing companions Keith Pemrick and George McElwee, have been concerned extensively with EB-5 points.
The revelation comes simply days after The Submit reported Casey has a three-cent stake in Chinese language fentanyl producer Yichang Humanwell by way of an index fund that’s a part of a 529 Plan mutual fund for his household. He doesn’t train direct management over the funding.
Casey’s opponent, GOP Senate hopeful Dave McCormick, blasted the incumbent as “the final word liar and hypocrite” for working adverts concerning the Humanwell investments of McCormick’s former firm whereas having a stake in it himself.
Connecticut-based hedge fund Bridgewater Associates — which McCormick led from 2020 to 2022 — had a $1.7 million stake in Humanwell as of 2021.
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