Overview

• Rep. Jasmine Crockett challenged the legitimacy of Melania Trump’s 2001 EB-1 visa, arguing her modeling career did not meet the “extraordinary ability” criteria reserved for Nobel laureates and Olympic medalists.
• Crockett contrasted the first lady’s visa approval with the administration’s aggressive ICE tactics, including detentions at immigration appointments and revocations over social media posts.
• During the House Judiciary Committee hearing, Crockett quipped that Melania fell short of supermodel benchmarks like Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell to illustrate perceived hypocrisy.
• Immigration lawyers say EB-1 adjudications are inherently subjective and that media exposure, earnings and high-profile endorsements can satisfy the visa’s multiple criteria.
• Melania Trump’s path from receiving an EB-1 visa in 2001 to naturalization in 2006 has reignited scrutiny over consistency and integrity in US visa adjudication.