Trump's Shift on Immigration: Green Cards for Graduates

International International News

Posted by pallavi on 2024-07-02 11:53:28 |

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Former U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to offer automatic green cards to foreign students graduating from U.S. colleges. This significant departure from his previous anti-immigrant stance is seen as a strategic move ahead of the November presidential election, where immigration remains a key issue. Trump’s proposal aims to prevent talented graduates from returning to their home countries, where they often become successful entrepreneurs and business leaders, particularly in India and China.

Trump’s announcement highlights a growing issue: over one million highly skilled Indians are stuck in the U.S. employment-based immigration backlog. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the backlog results from per-country limits and low annual quotas, causing potentially decades-long waits for green cards. This situation disrupts lives and hampers the U.S.'s ability to retain top talent. A study by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) found over 1.2 million Indians waiting in the top three employment-based green card categories. Without legislative intervention, the backlog could exceed 2.1 million by 2030 and take nearly two centuries to clear.

The long wait times are attributed to the annual limit on employment-based green cards, set at 140,000, and a per-country limit of 7%. These laws disproportionately affect professionals from populous countries like India and China. The May 2024 Visa Bulletin indicates that Indians in the second preference category must have filed their applications before May 15, 2012, highlighting the severity of the backlog compared to other countries.

Trump’s proposal has received mixed reactions. Some applaud the move as a positive step toward a more merit-based immigration system that prioritizes retaining skilled graduates. On social media, many users praised Trump for addressing high-skilled immigration, a crucial issue for American competitiveness. However, skepticism remains about the feasibility of implementing such a policy. Critics argue that the promise may be politically motivated and question whether the President has the authority to enact such changes without Congressional approval

Overall, Trump’s promise of automatic green cards for foreign graduates marks a significant shift in his immigration policy. While it has garnered support from various quarters, its practical implementation remains uncertain amidst the complexities of U.S. immigration law.

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