Former President Donald Trump expressed in an interview published Thursday his desire to provide automatic green cards to international students graduating from U.S. colleges. This marks a significant shift from his usual anti-immigrant stance often heard during his campaign speeches.
When asked about plans for companies to bring in the “best and brightest,” Trump discussed his intentions in a podcast recorded Wednesday with venture capitalists and tech investors known as the “All-In.”
“My proposal is that if you graduate from a college, you should automatically receive a green card along with your diploma to stay in this country,” Trump stated. “This applies to students from all colleges, whether they attend for two years or four.”
Immigration has been a central theme of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. His suggestion to grant green cards, which provide a pathway to U.S. citizenship, to potentially hundreds of thousands of foreign graduates would significantly expand America’s immigration system. This proposal contrasts sharply with his typical rhetoric regarding foreigners.
During his rallies, Trump often emphasizes the dangers he believes undocumented immigrants pose to public safety and their alleged negative impact on job availability and government resources. He has also pledged to execute the largest deportation effort in U.S. history if he wins the election.