Donald Trump Promises US Green Card for Foreign Graduates
They Go Back to India’: Trump Promises US Green Card for Foreign Graduates
Former US President Donald Trump has proposed granting green cards to foreign graduates from American colleges, marking a notable shift in his stance on immigration, a significant election issue.
In a podcast published Thursday, Trump expressed his intention to automatically provide green cards to college graduates as part of their diploma. This comment comes shortly after President Joe Biden announced a pathway to citizenship for immigrants married to US nationals.
“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,” Trump told the All-In podcast. A green card, officially known as a permanent resident card, is a step toward US citizenship.
I Do Promise
This promise from the Republican candidate contrasts with his 2016 pledge to end the use of H-1B visas, often used by Indian tech workers, in favor of prioritizing American labor. Trump now suggests that green cards should be available to all graduates, including those from two-year junior colleges and doctoral programs. When asked if he would commit to attracting the “best and the brightest” to America, Trump affirmed, “I do promise.”
Trump shared anecdotes of graduates from top colleges who want to stay in the US but are forced to return to their home countries, like India and China, where they establish successful companies employing thousands. He emphasized the need for “smart people” in US companies and promised that issues preventing their stay would end on “day one” of his potential presidency.
During his 2017-2021 presidency, Trump implemented stringent immigration policies, including constructing a wall on the US-Mexico border and a travel ban targeting mostly Muslim countries.
Trump’s comments follow Democrat Biden’s recent relaxation of visa rules, making it easier for the spouses of US nationals to obtain citizenship and simplifying work visa processes for migrants who came to the US illegally as children, provided they have graduated from college and secured a high-skilled job offer.