Trump proposes green cards for foreign graduates, shifting immigration stance

President-elect Donald Trump reignited debate over U.S. immigration and labor policies by proposing that foreign students graduating from U.S. colleges automatically receive green cards, citing the risk of losing future innovators to their home countries.

This marks a significant shift from his previous hardline stance when he criticized programs like H-1B as harmful to American workers.

Why it matters

Trump’s move to attract foreign talent highlights a tension between nationalist rhetoric and economic realities. Tech leaders warn that restricting skilled immigration could harm U.S. competitiveness, especially in critical fields like artificial intelligence. Balancing “America First” priorities with the demands of Silicon Valley remains a core challenge.

Details of Trump’s green card remarks

• Green cards with diplomas: Trump wants foreign graduates—particularly from India and China—to stay in the U.S., arguing it’s a missed opportunity when they take their skills abroad.
• Shift from past rhetoric: During his first presidency, Trump criticized the H-1B program for displacing U.S. workers.

• Tech leaders weigh in: Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy support bringing in foreign talent to fill what they see as a domestic shortage of highly skilled engineers.
• Policy proposals: Senior advisor Sriram Krishnan suggests lifting caps on green cards for skilled workers, sparking criticism from some far-right figures who accuse him of undermining Trump’s “America First” stance.
• Balancing act: Conservatives like David Sacks and Joe Lonsdale emphasize a merit-based system—accepting top global talent while limiting lower-skilled immigration.

Zoom in

Conservatives defending Krishnan’s proposals see them as critical for maintaining America’s edge in emerging technologies. They argue that bringing in the “best and brightest” aligns with Trump’s broader national interests.

Zoom out

Trump’s broader immigration agenda includes mass deportations and a more restrictive stance on border crossings. How his administration reconciles this with policies to attract elite foreign talent will shape U.S. innovation and economic competitiveness in the coming years.