Former President Donald Trump has made a surprising shift in his stance on immigration by proposing to grant automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from American universities. This proposal was made during an interview on 'The All-In Podcast,' where Trump emphasized the need to retain talented individuals educated in the U.S. to bolster the country's workforce.
Trump's comments represent a significant departure from his previous anti-immigration rhetoric and policies during his presidency. He argued that the U.S. should allow graduates, including those from junior colleges, to stay and work in the country. This shift aims to prevent these skilled individuals from starting businesses in other countries like India or China.
Despite his new stance, Trump continues to maintain a hardline approach towards illegal immigration. He has promised to execute the largest domestic deportation operation in American history if re-elected. This dual approach highlights a nuanced position where Trump differentiates between legal and illegal immigration.
During his presidency, Trump implemented measures like the 'Buy American, Hire American' executive order, which aimed to prioritize American workers by restricting certain visa programs. His latest comments, however, indicate a willingness to expand the legal immigration system to retain top talent trained in the U.S.
Trump's proposal comes in contrast to President Joe Biden's recent executive actions on immigration, which include allowing certain undocumented family members of U.S. citizens to apply for legal permanent residency without leaving the country. This has been part of Biden's broader strategy to appeal to Latino voters ahead of the upcoming election.
- Trump's new proposal could potentially benefit hundreds of thousands of foreign graduates, offering them a clear path to U.S. citizenship. This marks a broad expansion of the U.S. immigration system, contrasting sharply with Trump's earlier policies that sought to limit both legal and illegal immigration.
- Trump's administration had previously targeted visa programs that tech companies use to bring in skilled workers, arguing that these programs were being exploited to hire foreign workers at lower wages. His new stance suggests a pivot towards recognizing the value of highly educated immigrants in strengthening the U.S. economy.
- The former president's remarks on the podcast also included criticisms of the current immigration policies under President Biden, accusing them of being too lenient and ineffective. Trump continues to use immigration as a key issue to rally his base and differentiate himself from his political opponents.