The sister of President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner has been in China courting individual investors with a muchcriticized federal visa program that provides a path toward obtaining U.S. green cards.
BEIJING — The sister of Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, has been in China courting individual investors with a much-criticized federal visa program that provides a path toward obtaining U.S. green cards.
Nicole Meyer promoted One Journal Square, a Kushner Companies’ development in Jersey City, N.J., at an event Sunday at the Four Seasons Hotel in Shanghai, according to participants.
The pitch sought to raise funds from Chinese investors through the U.S. government’s EB-5 visa program, which allows permanent U.S. residency for those who finance projects that create a certain amount of jobs.
The event was organized by Beijing-based company QWOS and Kushner Companies, according to an advertisement on the Chinese company’s website, which says the project is seeking $150 million from 300 EB-5 investors.
Kushner, a senior adviser to Trump, stepped down as CEO of the Kushner Companies in January and has sold stakes in several properties to help allay concerns about conflict of interest. His family’s promotional efforts in China come amid widespread criticism of the EB-5 visa program, which has grown popular among wealthy foreigners seeking to move to the U.S. but faces allegations of fraud.
Critics say many of the investments purportedly aimed at assisting poor areas of the U.S. have wound up going to projects in more affluent neighborhoods, while many programs have been badly hit by fraud scandals. Earlier this month, Congress extended the EB-5 program in its current form through Sept. 30.
Blake Roberts, an attorney at Wilmer-Hale, Kushner’s personal counsel, said Kushner has no involvement in the operation of Kushner Companies.