Trump Pledges Green Cards for Foreign Graduates if Reelected
Donald Trump has announced he would grant green cards to foreign graduates from U.S. colleges, signaling a potential shift in his immigration stance.
The Republican candidate made this promise in a podcast released on Thursday, June 20, shortly after President Joe Biden proposed a citizenship pathway for immigrants married to U.S. citizens.
In the podcast, Trump stated, “I believe that graduates should automatically receive a green card along with their diploma, allowing them to stay in this country.”
A green card, formally known as a permanent resident card, is a step toward U.S. citizenship.
Trump specified that this policy should apply to “anybody who graduates from a college,” including those from two-year programs (junior colleges) and doctoral programs.
When asked if he would commit to attracting the “best and the brightest” from around the world to America, Trump responded, “I do promise.”
He added, “I’ve heard of cases where graduates from top colleges want to stay here but can’t. They return to India or China, start similar companies, and become billionaires, employing thousands of people there.”
He emphasized that U.S. companies need “smart people,” noting that some companies hesitate to make deals because they doubt these graduates can stay in the country. “That is going to end on day one,” Trump declared.
During Trump’s previous term from 2017 to 2021, he ordered the construction of a border wall with Mexico and imposed a travel ban on several predominantly Muslim and African countries.
His remarks follow Democrat opponent Biden’s Tuesday decision to relax visa rules for about half a million spouses of U.S. citizens, simplifying their path to citizenship.