Story highlights The program is a rare issue that unites lawmakers on the left and right

It is set to expire at the end of April

Washington (CNN) Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle signaled Wednesday they've had enough with a visa program as it currently stands -- a program that has been key to at least one Trump family business venture.

At issue is the EB-5 immigrant investment program, which allows foreign investors to pump money into US projects that create jobs and then apply for visas to immigrate to the US.

In a rare issue that unites lawmakers on the left and right, members of Congress have decried the program for essentially selling citizenship to wealthy foreigners -- many of whom are based in China -- although they acknowledge it does have value as a way to spur investment in the US and job growth. EB-5 recipients are eligible to apply for green cards, which could allow them to eventually become US citizens.

It is also an investment program that businesses connected to President Donald Trump and his family have made use of to fund major property developments. Though the White House has not weighed in on the future of the program, a key Democrat at the hearing called for more oversight to ensure the Trump administration's participation would be unaffected.

Trump himself has called for an overhaul of the legal immigration system and a crackdown on illegal immigration as a central component of his presidency. He recently called for a "merit-based" system of immigration.

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