On September 18, 2025, Civitas Capital Group played a prominent role at the 4th Annual Advanced EB-5 Conference, hosted by JTC and Saul Ewing LLP at the Four Seasons Hotel in Miami, Florida. This premier industry event convened EB-5 professionals, including developers, regional centers, legal experts, economists, and financial institutions, for an in-depth exploration of the evolving EB-5 program.
Driving Thought Leadership and Industry Insight
Civitas Capital Group’s Managing Director, Legal & Head of Investor Experience, Mine Ekim, contributed her expertise as a panelist in “Panel 1: State of the Industry Update”, which was moderated by Jill Jones, Head of Specialty Administration/General Counsel–USA at JTC. She joined fellow panelists James M. Sozomenou, Senior Vice President at Metropolitan Commercial Bank; Lulu Gordon, General Counsel at EB5 Capital; and William Gresser, President & CEO of EB-5 New York State, LLC and President of Invest in the USA (IIUSA).
The panel provided a comprehensive overview of the EB-5 program, addressing key regulatory changes, market trends, and policy developments shaping the program’s current trajectory.
Key Themes Explored
Building on rigorous industry data and real-world experience, the panel explored a wide range of critical topics shaping the EB-5 industry. Discussions examined economic impact and job creation, including how IIUSA’s recent studies measure jobs, the challenges inherent in the data, and what the findings reveal about the EB-5 program’s real-world contributions. Panelists shared insights on project trends and asset classes, highlighting the most popular investment categories, time-to-market considerations, and the types of projects that are raising capital most efficiently. Mine Ekim offered perspective on evolving filing practices and due diligence, including adjustments in offering packages and trends in the USCIS adjudications. The conversation also addressed advocacy and reauthorization, focusing on IIUSA’s legislative priorities, regional center operational concerns, and the implications of sunset and grandfathering provisions. Broader themes of industry maturity and risk management were emphasized, with attention to the evolution of private placement memoranda, risk disclosure practices, and overall market sophistication. Finally, the panel underscored the importance of effective communication and stakeholder engagement, highlighting the role of all stakeholders and the value of data transparency in ensuring consistent messaging to regulators, Congress, and industry participants.
Looking Ahead
The conference reinforced the value of collaboration and knowledge sharing in shaping the EB-5 program’s future. Panelists offered forward-looking perspectives on program trends, legislative developments, and strategic responses to challenges, including retrogression, processing delays and compliance requirements, market demand fluctuations and investor expectations, regulatory scrutiny and evolving due diligence standards, and looming deadlines.
Civitas Capital Group remains committed to fostering dialogue, sharing expertise, and guiding stakeholders through an increasingly sophisticated and dynamic EB-5 landscape. Our participation reflects our dedication to thought leadership and our proactive role in advancing industry best practices.
We extend our sincere gratitude to JTC and Saul Ewing LLP for hosting such an insightful and valuable event, bringing together industry leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of EB-5.
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