In a notable shift from his typically hardline stance on immigration, former President Donald Trump announced his plan to grant green cards to foreign graduates of U.S. colleges. This policy change was revealed during a podcast interview on Thursday, just days after President Joe Biden introduced a citizenship pathway for immigrants married to U.S. nationals.
Trump stated, “What I want to do and what I will do is, you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically as part of your diploma a green card to be able to stay in this country.” A green card, which is a permanent resident card, is a significant step toward U.S. citizenship.
The Republican candidate emphasized that this initiative would apply to all college graduates, including those from two-year programs and doctoral programs. When asked if he would commit to attracting the “best and the brightest” from around the world to America, Trump responded affirmatively, noting the struggles of top graduates who are forced to leave the country.
“I know of stories where people graduated from a top college, or from a college, and they desperately want to stay here… and they can’t,” Trump said. “They go back to India, they go back to China. They do the same basic company in those places and they become multi-billionaires employing thousands and thousands of people.”
Trump highlighted the need for smart, talented individuals in the U.S., saying, “That is going to end on day one,” referencing the current difficulties companies face in retaining foreign talent.
During his presidency from 2017 to 2021, Trump implemented several restrictive immigration policies, including the construction of a border wall with Mexico and a travel ban on individuals from mostly Muslim countries.
Trump’s remarks follow President Biden’s recent policy changes, which include easing visa rules for spouses of U.S. nationals and simplifying the process for “Dreamers” — migrants who arrived in the U.S. illegally as children — to obtain work visas if they have graduated from college and received high-skilled job offers. Biden has also signed an executive order to limit asylum claims when migrant numbers surge.
