Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
President Donald Trump on Wednesday sharply criticized long-standing U.S. student-visa rules, arguing that it is “a shame” that thousands of foreign graduates must leave the country after completing their studies. His remarks coincided with the formal launch of the Trump Gold Card, an elite fast-track immigration program that his administration says will make it easier for high-achieving international talent to stay and work in the United States.
Speaking at a White House roundtable, Trump lamented the uncertainty that confronts foreign students particularly from India, China and Europe who attend top American universities yet face limited options for remaining in the country after graduation. “You graduate from college, and you have to go back to India, they have to go back to China, they have to go back to France. They have to go back to wherever they came from,” Trump said. “Very hard to stay. It’s a shame.”
His comments reflect growing frustration among employers and policymakers over the complexity of the existing immigration system, including caps on H-1B visas and lengthy green-card waiting periods that restrict companies’ ability to hire and retain international graduates.
A “Better” Green Card, but With a Price Tag
The newly launched Trump Gold Card marketed by the administration as “a green card, but much better” — opened its application portal this week. Under the program, individuals must pay a $15,000 application fee and, if approved, contribute $1 million to the U.S. government. Administration officials say the initiative is designed to attract wealthy or high-performing applicants who can bolster the U.S. economy while relieving pressure on older visa categories.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, speaking alongside Trump at the rollout, said corporations will also be able to sponsor applicants for a $2 million fee, a pathway the administration argues will help companies compete globally for elite talent. Lutnick said the Gold Card would give employers certainty that traditional programs often fail to provide.
The administration has framed the initiative as a response to complaints from major U.S. firms. Trump cited conversations with business leaders, including Apple CEO Tim Cook, who he said struggle to hire graduates from top institutions because their visa status is unpredictable. The Gold Card, officials argue, will make it easier for companies to recruit from schools like Harvard, MIT, Wharton, and NYU’s Stern School of Business.
Concerns From Students and Employers
The issue resonates strongly among international students, particularly those from India and China, who together make up the largest share of foreign graduates in the U.S. The current system forces many to navigate limited Optional Practical Training (OPT) periods and competitive H-1B lotteries, leaving even top performers unsure whether they can remain in the U.S. workforce.
Trump’s remarks are likely to deepen the policy debate already underway in Washington, where some lawmakers including Senator Jim Banks, have advocated curtailing OPT and tightening other visa categories. Business groups, meanwhile, argue that reducing work opportunities for foreign graduates would harm U.S. competitiveness.
Legal and Structural Questions
Despite the fanfare surrounding the Gold Card, immigration attorneys and legal scholars say the new program could face significant challenges. Critics argue that it relies heavily on executive authority and may conflict with federal laws governing immigration and citizenship. Any attempts to bypass Congress on major immigration changes could invite judicial review.
Analysts also warn that the program could create a two-tiered system, giving wealthy applicants preferential treatment over skilled workers and families pursuing traditional pathways. Some experts question whether the required financial contributions would hold up under legal scrutiny, and whether applicants might later find their immigration status vulnerable if courts strike down parts of the program.
A New Phase in the Immigration Debate
For now, the Trump administration is positioning the Gold Card as a cornerstone of a broader shift toward a market-driven immigration system, one that prioritizes economic value and predictability. Supporters say it could help the U.S. attract high-impact innovators, entrepreneurs and graduates who would otherwise leave for Canada, Europe or Asia. Opponents counter that the plan commodifies residency and risks sidelining talent that cannot meet the program’s high financial thresholds.
The Gold Card website is already live and accepting applications, marking the beginning of what could become a major test of Trump’s approach to reshaping American immigration. Whether the new policy delivers clarity for employers or ushers in fresh legal and ethical controversies will become clearer in the months ahead, as students, businesses and courts begin to navigate the latest shift in U.S. visa rules.
