Sunder Pichai of Google. Elon Musk of Tesla. Satya Nadella of Microsoft. Jensen Huang of Nvidia. Many of the CEOs leading Silicon Valley—and the world—are naturalized American citizens who studied in the USA. Additionally, nearly 45% of Fortune 500 companies in the USA were founded by immigrants or their children. For years, international students in STEM fields at US universities have been able to stay and work legally for up to three years post-graduation through the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. After this, they must enter the H-1B lottery, with a 25%-35% chance of securing a visa. Those not selected often return to their home countries, disappointing both students and employers.
This could change under the incoming Trump administration if he keeps his promises. Known for his anti-immigrant stance, Trump recently stated on the “All-In” podcast, “I want to ensure that upon graduating from college, students automatically receive a green card to stay in the country. This includes junior colleges as well.” This policy shift would be welcomed by the 1.1 million international students currently enrolled in US universities. Current US immigration policies do not offer direct pathways to green cards and citizenship for noncitizen graduates, but this might change under Trump. “If he fulfills his promise, it would be transformative for international students, US universities, and American society,” says Peter Davos, Founder and CEO of Dubai-based Hale Education Group. “The US needs clear pathways to citizenship for its international graduates, many of whom wish to settle permanently. These changes are crucial for maintaining American leadership in global innovation,” he adds.
Trump further stated, “Top graduates can’t negotiate with companies because they fear not being able to stay in the country. This will end on Day 1. It’s heartbreaking to lose talent from Harvard, MIT, and other top schools.” The US needs 400,000 new engineers annually, with over one-third of engineering jobs unfilled, according to CCG Consulting. Revising US immigration laws to allow noncitizen STEM graduates to stay is the most effective way to fill this gap. President Joe Biden promised green cards for STEM PhDs but didn’t deliver; let’s hope President-Elect Trump does.
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