Trump's Green Card Policies: Promises vs. Reality
This presentation examines former President Donald Trump’s promises
regarding green cards and legal immigration during his term. We’ll explore what was proposed and what actually occurred, providing an objective
analysis of the outcomes.
The Push for Merit-Based Immigration
Promise
Trump advocated for a shift from family-based to meritbased immigration. He cited Canada and Australia’s pointsbased systems as models to follow
Reality
No legislative changes were made. Proposals like the RAISE
Act failed to pass in Congress. The family-based system
remained largely intact.
Green Cards for U.S. College Graduates
Promise
Automatic green cards for international students
graduating from U.S. universities, especially in STEM fields.
Reality
Proposal never implemented. Stricter guidelines placed on OPT and F-1 visa holders.
Impact
Harder for international graduates to stay in the U.S. after completing their studies.
Reducing Legal Immigration Numbers
Promise
Cut legal immigration by half
Action
Executive orders and procedural changes implemented.
Result
Reduced green cards issued without new laws
Impact
Longer delays and stricter scrutiny on visa petitions.
Faster Green Card Processing
Promise
Speed up green card approvals for skilled workers. Reduce
the backlog for employment-based visas.
Reality
Backlogs grew due to increased processing times and
stricter requirements.
Result
Resources redirected to border security and asylum cases,
further delaying processing
The Diversity Visa Lottery
Promise
End the Diversity Visa Lottery program, which allocates 50,000 green cards annually
Reality
The program remained in place. No legislation was passed to abolish it.
Result
Applicants from underrepresented countries continued to have this
immigration pathway.
Executive Orders vs. Legislation
Executive Action
Most changes enacted through
executive orders or procedural
adjustments. This allowed for
quicker implementation but
less permanence.
Legislative Attempts
Sweeping immigration reforms
proposed but not passed.
Congress remained divided on
major policy changes.
Practical Impact
Legal immigration numbers fell significantly. Skilled workers and families faced longer wait times and more denials.
Conclusion: Promises vs. Delivery
Fewer Implemented Changes
Many proposed overhauls to the
green card system never
materialized.
Increased Restrictions
Existing processes became slower
and more restrictive for legal
immigrants.
Ongoing Debate
Immigration reform remains a
contentious issue in American
politics.