US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that it would be unfortunate for America to lose the “tremendous people”, categorically mentioning Indians among others, who graduate from top American universities. Speaking at the launch of the new Gold Card program, he acknowledged the ongoing dilemma faced by companies that want to hire talented graduates but remain uncertain about whether those individuals will be permitted to stay in the country.“It is a gift to have somebody great coming into our country, because we believe these will be some tremendous people who otherwise wouldn’t be allowed to stay. They graduate from college, and then you have to go back to India, you have to go back to China, you have to go back to France, you have to return to wherever you came from. It’s very hard to stay. It’s a shame. It’s a ridiculous thing. We’re taking care of that,” Trump said on Wednesday.
Trump formally announced the Trump Gold Card Visa, a new programme designed to provide visa status—and eventually a pathway to US citizenship for highly promising foreign workers in exchange for significant compensation.For Indian students who gain admission to top US universities, this could mean far less anxiety about being forced to return to India after graduation, and a much greater likelihood of securing employment with the companies they aspire to join. This opportunity, however, comes with a substantial required fee.The initiative comes despite the backdrop of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown. Since taking office, he has introduced a series of measures aimed at reducing immigration, including stricter border controls, heightened deportation efforts, and revisions to visa policies.These changes have placed considerable strain on the Indian community in the United States, particularly students and skilled workers. The steep increase in H-1B visa fees—framed as a measure to “protect American jobs”—created additional difficulties for many Indians working in the country.Yet even amid these hardline policies, Trump has repeatedly stressed the importance of retaining exceptional talent that can contribute meaningfully to the United States. The Gold Card programme is presented as a way to hold on to these individuals while maintaining the administration’s overall stance on immigration.
