Former President Donald Trump has suggested a potentially significant shift in his immigration stance, proposing that foreign students who graduate from colleges in the United States should automatically receive green cards. Trump made this suggestion during an episode of the All-In podcast, hosted by several venture capitalists.
“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, and that includes junior colleges too,” Trump stated. He introduced this idea in response to a question about importing “the best and brightest” to America.
This proposal appears to contrast with Trump’s historically hardline stance on immigration. During his presidency and in recent campaign rhetoric, Trump has advocated for mass deportations, ending birthright citizenship, and reinstating his ban on entry from certain Muslim-majority nations. He has also been a vocal critic of President Biden’s border policies.
However, it remains unclear whether Trump’s new suggestion would apply to students who entered the country illegally. The former president emphasized the need to retain talented graduates, saying, “I know of stories where people graduated from a top college or from college, and they desperately wanted to stay here and had a plan for a company, a concept. And they can’t.”
Trump’s immigration record includes efforts to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, although only 452 miles were completed during his tenure. His new proposal, if implemented, could mark a significant shift in approach to skilled immigration, potentially aligning with business interests seeking to retain foreign talent.
As the 2024 presidential race heats up, Trump’s evolving stance on immigration policy is likely to be a topic of intense scrutiny and debate.
