Former President Donald Trump has proposed granting green cards to non-citizen graduates of American colleges, including those from junior colleges. This proposal, discussed on the “All In” podcast, represents a notable departure from his stringent immigration policies during his presidency.
“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 stated.
The Trump campaign quickly clarified that this policy would apply only to “the most skilled graduates” who undergo “the most aggressive vetting process” to exclude individuals deemed harmful to American interests. Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s campaign press secretary, emphasized that this vetting process would ensure that only those who could make significant contributions to America would be retained. Essentially, this eligibility profile would not differ from what is already in place.
Critics, including the Biden campaign, have labeled Trump’s promise as insincere. “Trump’s empty promise is both a lie and an insult, especially to the countless people that have been permanently damaged by his first-term in office,” said Biden campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz.
During his presidency, Trump implemented policies that significantly curtailed legal immigration. These included a temporary freeze on new visas for foreign workers and increased scrutiny on visa extensions. Stephen Miller, a key advisor to Trump, championed these restrictive measures, arguing they were necessary to protect American jobs and wages.
However, Trump’s recent comments seem tailored to appeal to the tech industry and other sectors reliant on high-skilled immigrant labor. “It’s so sad when we lose people from Harvard, MIT, from the greatest schools,” Trump lamented.
The State Department reported that the U.S. hosted approximately one million international students in the academic year ending in 2022, with many hailing from countries like China and India. Granting green cards to these graduates would mark a colossal policy shift.
