In a departure from his historically hardline stance on immigration, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has proposed granting green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. The announcement came during an appearance on the All-In podcast, hosted by Silicon Valley tech investors, on Thursday.
Responding to angel investor Jason Calacanis’ call for policies to retain high-skilled workers, Trump agreed to the idea of extending green cards to foreign graduates, including those from junior colleges. “You graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically as part of your diploma a green card to stay in this country,” Trump stated, adding, “I do promise.”
A green card, officially known as a permanent resident card, grants individuals the right to live and work permanently in the United States and serves as a pathway to citizenship.
It remains uncertain whether Trump’s proposal would apply to all foreign graduates, including those who entered the U.S. illegally or overstayed their visas, or only to those on student visas. Trump’s campaign clarified in a statement that only the “most skilled graduates who can make significant contributions to America” would qualify, subject to what they described as “the most aggressive vetting process in U.S. history.”
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The Biden campaign dismissed Trump’s pledge as insincere, pointing to his track record on immigration during his presidency from 2017 to 2021. Kevin Munoz, a spokesperson for Biden’s campaign, criticized the proposal, stating, “Every chance Donald Trump got in office, he made it his mission to rip apart immigrant families for his own political gain. This empty promise is both a lie and an insult, especially to the countless people permanently damaged by his first term.”
Immigration advocates also expressed skepticism. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council, highlighted the Trump administration’s past efforts to restrict student visas and curtail pathways for international students to remain in the U.S. after graduation. “I almost have to laugh because his administration adopted multiple policies aiming to restrict student visas,” Reichlin-Melnick said.
During his presidency, Trump implemented measures to limit the use of H-1B visas, a critical option for foreign graduates seeking employment in the U.S. These moves were part of broader efforts to tighten immigration policies, which critics argue created barriers for high-skilled workers.
The tech industry, which relies heavily on skilled foreign workers, has long called for policies to retain top talent from around the world. Trump’s new stance appears to align with these demands, though industry leaders remain cautious about his ability or willingness to follow through.
