In a surprising departure from his usual stance on immigration, former President Donald Trump has put forward a proposal that foreign graduates of U.S. colleges should automatically be granted green cards.
This unexpected announcement was made during an episode of the All-In podcast released on June 20. Trump’s new position stands in stark contrast to his previous, more restrictive immigration policies.
It comes in response to President Joe Biden’s recent policy, which offers a pathway to citizenship for immigrants married to U.S. citizens, as part of efforts to tighten control over illegal border crossings.
Trump outlined his vision during the podcast, emphasizing that graduates should receive a green card alongside their diploma, enabling them to remain in the country.
This plan would apply to all college graduates, regardless of the length of their programs or the level of their degrees.
Trump expressed his commitment to attracting and retaining the best and brightest talent in the U.S., highlighting the challenges faced by graduates from prestigious institutions who often return to their home countries and establish successful companies there, creating numerous jobs.
He criticized the current immigration system for hindering American businesses’ ability to secure top talent and pledged to end these restrictions on his first day in office.
Throughout his presidency, which spanned from 2017 to 2021, Trump was known for his stringent immigration policies, such as the construction of a border wall with Mexico and a travel ban affecting predominantly Muslim countries.
Trump’s comments come shortly after President Biden’s initiative to ease visa rules for approximately half a million spouses of U.S. citizens, making it easier for them to obtain citizenship.
