Donald Trump has proposed granting automatic green cards to all graduates of American universities as a strategy to prevent brain drain and retain the best talent in the country.
The proposal would apply to graduates of two-year colleges, four-year colleges and doctoral programs, regardless of their field of study or the prestige of their institution.
“When we lose phenomenal individuals from schools like Harvard and MIT or even lesser-known universities that produce exceptional talent, it is a loss to our economy,” Trump said.
He highlighted the struggles of international students who want to remain in the U.S. after graduation but are often forced to leave due to visa limitations.
These graduates often return to India or China and found companies that become multimillion-dollar companies, employing thousands of people abroad rather than in the United States.
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“They leave with innovative ideas and plans to create companies, but when we send them back to countries like India or China, they implement those ideas there. The jobs and wealth they create could have been part of our economy.”
The proposal aims to ensure that the American workforce remains competitive by keeping highly qualified people within the country.
“Companies need brilliant people to innovate and grow. Forcing the brightest graduates to leave not only undermines their potential but also harms our businesses.”
Describing the current immigration system as counterproductive, Trump promised that under his plan, barriers preventing international graduates from staying would “end on day one.”