Like a game of chess, former President Donald Trump is strategically positioning himself in the U.S. electoral field, promising to grant automatic permanent residency (green card) to immigrants who graduate from university.
Following the recent strategy by the administration of current President Joe Biden, which offers a path to regularize the status of spouses of U.S. citizens, graduates from local universities, and those who entered the country as children, the Republican candidate's proposal marks a significant shift in his stance on immigration.
A Shift in Immigration Policy
As a way to secure additional support in his bid to return to the White House, Trump declared on the podcast “All-In” that "if you graduate from a university, I believe you should automatically receive a green card as part of your diploma to stay in this country." In the program broadcasted this Thursday, he added that the plan would also include community colleges, stating, "anyone who graduates from a university. You go there for two or four years," according to the news agency EFE.
This measure represents a radical change in his position, considering he has been one of the main critics of the programs implemented by Biden and that during his administration (2017-2021), he maintained a hardline policy, labeling undocumented immigrants as criminals and violators.
With the promise to address this issue from the first day of his term, the Republican stepped back from his previous statements when he assured he would deport a larger number of immigrants, whom he blamed for job losses and the depletion of government resources.
In this way, Trump is moving his pieces in the same field as Joe Biden, who seeks to "promote family unity in the immigration process" with a law that also allows for the processing of residency within the national territory, which was impossible under the previous regulation.
The new process, which will consider the time they have lived in the country and whether they pose a threat to public or national security, will benefit nearly half a million immigrants, including 50,000 stepchildren of U.S. citizens. They will have a three-year period to apply for permanent residency once authorities review their case and approve their application.
Trump's Immigration Proposal: Key Questions Answered
Trump's announcement of automatic green cards for university graduates has sparked many questions. Below, we answer some of the most common queries regarding this proposal.
Who is eligible for the automatic green card under Trump's proposal?
According to Trump, any immigrant who graduates from a university or community college in the United States would be eligible for an automatic green card.
How does this proposal differ from Biden's current immigration policies?
Biden's policies focus on regularizing the status of spouses of U.S. citizens, graduates from local universities, and those who entered the country as children, promoting family unity. In contrast, Trump's proposal specifically targets university graduates for automatic green card eligibility.
What prompted Trump to change his stance on immigration?
Trump's shift appears to be a strategic move to gain additional support in his bid for the presidency, offering a more inclusive approach to highly educated immigrants.