Former US President Donald Trump has announced that he would issue green cards to foreign graduates of US colleges if he is re-elected, a surprising deviation from his typically harsh stance on immigration.

In a podcast with Silicon Valley tech investors on Thursday, Trump proposed easing the process for bringing talent into the country, stating that all graduates from US colleges should be permitted to remain in the United States.

“It’s a tragedy losing talent from top institutions,” Trump remarks

"It's heartbreaking when we lose graduates from institutions like Harvard, MIT, and other outstanding schools," Trump said during the All-In Podcast featuring Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, David Sacks, and David Friedberg.

"Graduates should receive, as part of their diploma, a green card that allows them to stay here, including those from community colleges," Trump continued.

A green card provides individuals the right to reside and work permanently in the US, paving the way for citizenship.

This proposal, potentially adding hundreds of thousands of new citizenship candidates each year, significantly contrasts with Trump’s previous hardline immigration policies that bolstered his popularity within the Republican Party.

Trump, who once claimed migrants were "poisoning the blood of our country," has promised the largest deportation operation of undocumented migrants in US history if re-elected. He has also criticized President Joe Biden, his Democratic opponent, for being lenient on immigration.

At a rally in Wisconsin on Tuesday, Trump condemned a new initiative by Biden that permits undocumented spouses of US citizens to apply for permanent residence without exiting the country.

"Our nation is under siege. We should focus on halting this invasion, not discussing amnesty," Trump declared.

Approximately 11 million migrants reside in the US without authorization, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Although Trump typically targets undocumented migration, his administration also significantly reduced legal immigration during his tenure.

According to the Cato Institute, Trump’s administration decreased the number of green cards and immigrant visas by 418,453 and 11,178,668 respectively, mainly due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

During the podcast, Trump mentioned that the pandemic had interrupted his plans to grant green cards to foreign graduates.

"I know of cases where people graduated from a top college and aimed to stay here to implement a business idea, but couldn't," Trump explained.

"They return to their home countries, start the same business, and end up as multi-billionaires, employing thousands, an opportunity that could have materialized here."