Five months ago, Donald Trump made a surprising pledge during his campaign, a stark contrast to his previous hardline stance on immigration. Speaking to a group of tech investors on The All-In Podcast, Trump proposed that foreign students graduating from U.S. colleges should receive green cards as part of their diplomas. “What I want to do, and what I will do, is — you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country,” he said.
If this policy is implemented and approved by Congress, it could create a pathway for millions of international students to become permanent residents. However, these are significant “ifs,” as Trump has not revisited the idea publicly, leaving questions about the specifics and feasibility of such a policy.
A Broader Proposal, Then a Narrower Vision
The U.S. hosted over 1.1 million international students in the 2023-24 academic year, a record high, according to recent data. These students generally hold nonimmigrant visas, which allow them to study but not remain permanently. Trump’s podcast comments marked a sharp departure from his administration’s previous policies that reduced legal immigration and aligned with anti-immigrant rhetoric.
The idea emerged during a conversation with venture capitalist Jason Calacanis, who asked Trump to enhance the U.S.’s ability to attract global talent. Trump expanded on the concept, suggesting that all college graduates, including those from junior colleges and doctoral programs, should be eligible for green cards. Shortly after the podcast, Trump’s campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt clarified that this policy would involve strict vetting to exclude “communists, radical Islamists, Hamas supporters, America haters, and public charges.” She added, “He believes, only after such vetting has taken place, we ought to keep the most skilled graduates who can make significant contributions to America.”
International Students’ Mixed Reactions
For many international students, such a policy could be life-changing. Metolo Foyet, a Ph.D. student from Cameroon at the University of Florida, emphasized the stress of navigating current immigration processes. “Having it would erase that pressure. And we can 100% focus on what we need to do and give back to this country who has given so much to us,” she said.
However, skepticism abounds. Egyptian student Dany Rashwan, studying computer engineering at the University of Florida, initially felt optimistic but quickly recalled how unpredictable policies during the pandemic affected foreign students. “Graduating this semester, it was really difficult to find a job,” Rashwan noted. Out of 200 companies at a career fair, only three offered sponsorship for international students. Similarly, Haomin Huang, a forestry master’s student at the University of Georgia, expressed frustration with the current visa lottery system, which he described as luck-based. He noted that many graduates leave the U.S. for countries with more straightforward immigration pathways. “Because of the immigration policy, they chose to leave,” Huang said.
Universities See Potential for Collaboration
University leaders view Trump’s proposal as an opportunity to address longstanding challenges. Raj Echambadi, president of the Illinois Institute of Technology and co-chair of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, recounted his own struggles as an international student. “From an institutional point of view, I would hope that this green card promise comes through,” he said. Echambadi suggested starting with a narrower pilot program for disciplines critical to national security and economic development, which could still have a substantial impact.
Sarah Spreitzer, vice president of government relations for the American Council on Education, noted that the proposal echoed efforts during Trump’s first term to attract high-skilled immigrants. While those initiatives did not materialize into legislation, Spreitzer found the renewed focus encouraging. “I think it’s an area that we can collaborate with the administration on,” she said.
Criticism from All Sides
Trump’s idea faced immediate backlash from critics, including those who typically support his immigration policies. Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies argued it could lead to exploitation and harm American workers. “It would turn every university (and community college!) into a citizenship-selling machine,” he wrote in National Review.
Institute of International Education CEO Allan Goodman also raised concerns, suggesting the policy could exacerbate brain drain in students’ home countries. “The dream that encourages them to study abroad is to improve their countries…automatically issuing very tempting green cards…could upset this dynamic,” Goodman argued in Times Higher Education.
Challenges in Congress and Alternative Approaches
Even if Trump champions this initiative, he would require Congressional support to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act. Krikorian predicted significant resistance. “There will be enormous pushback within Congress, even among his own supporters,” he said. Instead, he proposed reallocating visas from family-based categories to skilled workers or eliminating the diversity visa lottery.
Despite the hurdles, some remain cautiously optimistic. Huang speculated that Trump’s alliance with Elon Musk, an advocate for increased legal immigration, could influence reform. “He might be the one who pushes this,” Huang said.
For now, international students like Foyet remain watchful. “We know that this is politics…It’s one thing to say it, but another thing when you’re in power. Is it going to be a reality?” she said. The future of Trump’s proposal, like the lives of many international students, hangs in the balance.
