Trump Proposes Green Card for Foreign University Graduates

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed granting foreign graduates of U.S. universities permanent residency in the United States. According to Trump, these graduates should “automatically receive a green card to stay in the country,” as he stated in a podcast.

Trump shared stories of foreign graduates who “desperately” wanted to stay in the U.S. but were unable to do so. Instead, they returned to countries like India or China, where they founded companies and “became multibillionaires, employing thousands and tens of thousands of people,” Trump said.

This proposal marks a departure from the right-wing populist’s typically stringent stance on immigration, which remains one of the central issues in the U.S. presidential campaign. Trump’s opposition Republicans have particularly criticized President Joe Biden for being too lenient on migration across the Mexican border.

Two weeks ago, Biden tightened the rules for migrants at the Mexican border through an executive order. At the same time, he eased conditions for migrants already living in the country. The U.S. President announced a streamlined path to permanent residency for hundreds of thousands of spouses of U.S. citizens. Trump, who is expected to challenge Biden in the upcoming election, criticized this move.

The new rules will apply to all applicants who have been in the U.S. for at least ten years and have married a U.S. citizen before June 17, 2024. According to government estimates, this will affect around 500,000 people. Additionally, 50,000 stepchildren of U.S. citizens will also be covered by the new regulations.