By Alexandra Ulmer and Gram Slattery
(Reuters) -Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said in a podcast released Thursday that students graduating from U.S. colleges should get a green card to stay in the country, a proposal that runs counter to his hardline immigration policies.
During the All-In podcast hosted by Silicon Valley tech investors, angel investor Jason Calacanis told Trump that the U.S. should be able to legally retain more highly skilled workers, a major problem for the tech industry.
“Can you please promise us that you will give us more opportunities to import the world’s best and brightest to America?” Calacanis said.
“I promise,” Trump said. “But I agree with that, otherwise I wouldn’t promise… You graduate from a university, I think as part of your degree you should automatically get a green card to stay in this country and that applies also for junior colleges.”
A green card, also called a permanent resident card, gives individuals the right to live and work permanently in the United States and is a step toward citizenship.
It was not clear whether Trump was referring to all foreigners, including those who came to the United States illegally or overstayed their visas, or just those with student visas.
Asked for comment, the Trump campaign said in a statement that only after “the most aggressive screening process in American history” would “the most capable graduates who can make significant contributions to America” be retained.
One immigration supporter was not convinced by Trump’s proposal.
“I almost laugh because his administration has passed multiple policies aimed at restricting student visas and making it harder for people to stay in the country after graduation,” said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council.
During his 2017-2021 presidency, the Trump administration took steps to restrict U.S. companies’ use of skilled foreign workers on H-1B visas, a key visa option for international students seeking to stay in the United States.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the Trump administration tried to force tens of thousands of foreign students to leave the country if their schools held all classes online. Faced with lawsuits and strong opposition from colleges and universities, the government later withdrew the order.
Trump has vowed major action if re-elected against Democrat Joe Biden in the November election and has criticized Biden’s efforts to curb the record number of migrants entering the US illegally.
Two of the All-In hosts, venture capitalists David Sacks and Chamath Palihapitiya, hosted a swanky fundraiser for Trump in San Francisco earlier this month, raising about $12 million for his campaign.
UKRAINE, ABORTION
During the interview, Trump ruled out sending American troops to Ukraine.
“I would guarantee it,” he said, when asked if he would promise not to put boots on the ground there. “I wouldn’t do it, no.”
Trump also seemed skeptical about creating a path to NATO membership for Ukraine. The Biden administration supports Ukraine’s eventual entry into the Mutual Defense Alliance.
On abortion rights, Trump said he would not support a federal ban, echoing previous comments.
(Reporting by Alexandra Ulmer and Gram Slattery; additional reporting by Kristina Cooke and Ted Hesson; Editing by Anthony Esposito and Diane Craft)
