Former U.S. President Donald Trump has made a significant policy shift regarding the issuance of green cards to foreign students graduating from American universities.

What Happened: Trump said on a recent episode of the All-In Podcast that foreign students graduating from U.S. universities should be granted automatic green cards.

This move is aimed at preventing these students from returning to their home countries, such as India and China, where they often become successful entrepreneurs.

The former president spoke of "stories where people graduated from a top college or from a college, and they desperately wanted to stay here, they had a plan for a company, a concept, and they can't — they go back to India, they go back to China, they do the same basic company in those places."

"They become multi-billionaires employing thousands and thousands of people, and it could have been done here," he added.

“What I want to do and what I will do is – you graduate from a college, I think you should get a Green Card automatically as part of your diploma, a Green Card to be able to stay in this country. And that includes junior colleges too,” Trump said in the podcast.

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Trump, known for his hardline anti-immigrant stance, seemed to be addressing a crucial election issue in the U.S.

Immigration has been a key topic in the run-up to the November elections, with a recent poll by Pew Research Centre showing that 59% of U.S. voters support citizenship for immigrants.

Why It Matters: This policy shift is a significant departure from Trump’s previous stance on immigration.

During his presidency, Trump implemented several restrictions on green cards, visa programs, and other forms of legal immigration, significantly reducing the number of lawful permanent residents entering the country.

Trump’s new policy also aligns with the recent surge in student visa applications from Indian students.

In 2023, the U.S. issued a record number of over 140,000 visas to Indian students, and the demand has been even higher in 2024.

What Next: The policy shift could have a significant impact on the U.S. economy and its higher education sector.

It could potentially retain a large number of talented foreign students, who often contribute to innovation and job creation in the U.S.

However, it remains to be seen how this policy shift will be received by the public and other political leaders in the U.S.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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