Immigration Program Funds Ballparks

(Tampa, Florida) Local decision-makers are salivating to have Chinese immigrants pay for a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Chamber of commerce leaders from Tampa and St. Petersburg who have been studying how to pay for a new Rays stadium landed on an obscure federal immigration program called EB-5 that might help with the half-billion-dollar tab.

Under the program, foreigners willing to invest at least $500,000 each to create jobs in the United States can qualify for a green card for themselves and their families.

Essentially, affluent foreigners can buy their way into a life in America — and the majority are coming from China.

The idea of using foreign EB-5 money is also being considered in Oakland, CA. Like the Tampa Bay Rays, the Oakland A's want a new ballpark.

Companion post at Immigration Watch.