By Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News

5 minutes read. Updated 9:30AM GMT Fri, June 21, 2024

United States former President Donald Trump has announced that, if re-elected, he would automatically grant green cards to foreign graduates of US colleges. This move represents a significant departure from his previously stringent stance on immigration.

Trump unveiled this proposal during a podcast interview with prominent Silicon Valley tech investors on Thursday. Speaking on the All-In Podcast hosted by Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, David Sacks, and David Friedberg, Trump emphasized the importance of retaining top talent educated in the US. “It’s so sad when we lose people from Harvard, MIT, the greatest schools, and even lesser-known but phenomenal schools,” he remarked.

He continued, “I think you should get, automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country, and that includes junior colleges, too.” A green card grants individuals the right to live and work permanently in the US and provides a pathway to citizenship.

This proposal could result in hundreds of thousands of new citizenship applicants each year, signaling a dramatic shift from Trump’s earlier hardline immigration policies. During his presidency, Trump was known for his tough rhetoric, including a controversial statement claiming migrants were “poisoning the blood of our country.”

Despite his new proposal, Trump has maintained his strong stance on undocumented immigration. At a recent campaign event in Wisconsin, he criticized a new program announced by President Joe Biden that allows undocumented spouses of US citizens to apply for permanent residence without leaving the country. “Our country is under invasion. We should not be talking amnesty, we should be talking about stopping the invasion instead,” Trump declared.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, approximately 11 million migrants are living in the US without authorization. Although Trump’s administration primarily targeted undocumented migration, it also significantly reduced legal immigration. An analysis by the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, revealed that the Trump administration cut the number of green cards and immigrant visas by 418,453 and 11,178,668, respectively, largely due to restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During his podcast appearance, Trump noted that the pandemic had hindered his plans to support foreign graduates. “I know of stories where people graduate from a top college or any college and desperately wanted to stay here. They had a plan for a company, a concept, and they can’t,” he 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, and it could have been done here.”

Trump’s proposal could significantly impact international students and the US economy by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within the country. As the 2024 election approaches, this policy shift is likely to be a key topic of discussion.

For more details on Trump’s latest immigration policy proposals and how they may affect the future of international students in the US, visit this article.

For related news, read more about US immigration policy changes and international student statistics.