Donald Trump, the presidential contender, changed his position on the green card policy for International students who graduate from the US universities. On June 21, he promised to grant such students automatic green cards. Trump claimed on a podcast that the action was necessary to stop talented students from going back to their native countries like China and India, where they go on to become multibillionaires.
In his remarks, the former US president mentioned “stories where people graduated from a college or a top college and they badly wanted to stay here, they had a plan for an organization, a concept, and they can’t— they go back to China, they go back to India, and they do the same basic company in other places”.
Trump, who is well-known for taking a strong anti-immigrant stance, appeared to be addressing a delicate political issue before the elections in November. One of the main concerns in the US election is immigration. According to a recent Pew Research Centre survey, 59% of American voters support granting citizenship to immigrants. According to PTI, the podcast was presented by four venture capitalists, three of whom are immigrants: Jason Calacanis, David Sacks, David Friedberg, and Chamath Palihapitiya.
He restated in the podcast his first-term policy about the granting of Green Cards to international students who have completed a degree programme in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math).
”We require you to be able to attract and retain exceptional individuals, including the top students from the best institutions, intelligent graduates, and top performers in their class”. “Top student graduates are unable to even negotiate a contract with the company as they fear they won’t be allowed to remain in the nation’’, Trump said.
Trump’s comments contradict his attempts to restrict immigration during his time in the White House, which included directing federal agencies to implement what he called a “Buy American, Hire American” strategy to encourage the hiring of American workers and targeting visa programmes that tech companies use to bring in numerous skilled workers. During his administration, Trump also attempted to limit the admission of refugees and temporarily outlaw travel from seven nations with a majority of Muslims.
Trump criticized the H-1B visa programme during his presidency, calling it a “theft of American prosperity.” Trump made another step to limit the H-1B visa programme one month prior to the 2020 election. Trump advocated for a pathway to citizenship for certain foreign nationals who graduated from US institutions when he campaigned for president in 2015. A record 1,40,000 Indian student visas were granted by the US in 2023.
In the 2022–2023 academic year, over a million international students are enrolled in US higher education institutions from over 210 countries of origin, according to the Institute of International Education’s most recent annual Open Doors report.
Green Card
A green card, also called a permanent resident card, is a document that the US government issues that gives its bearer the status of permanent resident. This status offers a route to American citizenship after a certain period of time and permits the applicant to reside and work in the country indefinitely. Approximately 34.7 million people submitted applications for green cards for FY2024.
Trump’s change in Policy?
The authenticity of the guarantee has been called into question ever since it was made. Is this a genuine shift in policy, or is it just a political ploy to win over voters ahead of the next elections? The intricacy of US immigration laws and Trump’s past point to the latter.
In the US, applying for a Green Card is a generally challenging procedure that involves many obstacles and long waiting periods. Given the existing state of bureaucracy, the promise of a simple route for foreign students appears excessively optimistic.
Furthermore, Trump has never had a friendly attitude on immigration in the past. Many people are dubious of this abrupt change of heart given his administration’s attempts to tighten immigration regulations and decrease the number of visa applications granted.
Impact on the Global Landscape
If Trump follows through on his promise, there may be a big change in the global education system. The US may provide a greater threat to nations like Canada, Australia, and the UK, which have been drawing in foreign students with the prospect of post-study employment opportunities and residency options. Students must consider a number of aspects while choosing where to study, such as the possibilities for long-term residency, the cultural setting, and the quality of education.
The US would surely become a more desirable location if it provided a simpler route to a Green Card. This might cause a shift in the flow of international students, with more choosing American colleges and universities over other favoured countries. Other nations may be forced to change their laws in order to stay competitive if the US offers Green Cards, which might start a domino effect.
The news coincides with the unveiling of US President Joe Biden’s expansive immigration policies, which would allow immigrants married to US citizens to gain access to citizenship.
New Immigration Policy
On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden demonstrated an extensive immigration programme designed to provide over half a million undocumented immigrants who are married to citizens of the US legal status as well as a route to residency and citizenship. In addition, he wants to implement initiatives that will accelerate the application process for work permits for recent graduates, particularly those who qualify for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
