during his speech. The event also featured a gourmet dinner
and live music. A portion of the night’s proceeds benefitted
Willow International, a charity fighting human trafficking.
Starting the next day, the EB-5 convention — which also
coincided with the Uglobal Immigration Convention —
included a series of panels on topics such as RFEs, NOIDs,
I-829 filings, effecting change on the EB-5 program and
marketing to the world outside of China. Following the day’s
festivities, sponsor Relevant Group hosted a VIP cocktail
reception at the elegant rooftop of Dream Hollywood hotel.
The panels continued the second day with discussions about
the EB-5 reform, the applicant backlog, how immigration
options fit into a franchise model and the difficulties of
legal compliance. Other panels explored the EB-5 market in
Russia, Brazil, the Middle East and Latin America.
124 EB5 INVESTORS M AGAZINE
Malta Prime Minister Dr. Joseph Muscat was the keynote
speaker during the second day’s lunch reception, where he
talked about his country’s strict due-diligence standards
through its popular citizenship-by-investment program.
Ashleigh Aitken, candidate for mayor in Anaheim, California
— the home of Disneyland and the Angels baseball team
— also shared her thoughts about foreign investment and
immigration.
Panelist Mitch Wexler, partner with Fragomen, was pleased
with the educational forum and the many networking
opportunities.
“The EB5 Investors L.A. conference was another home run!”
Wexler said. “I always look forward to learning from them
and networking with all of the leading players in the EB-5
ecosystem.”