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The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated that the country needs highly skilled immigrants who can help train local workers in high-tech industries, a position that has sparked debate within his own political movement.
During his speech at the U.S.-Saudi Arabia Investment Forum, held in Washington alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump stated that bringing in skilled immigrants “does not contradict the principles of Make America Great Again (MAGA)”, but rather reinforces them, reported the AP agency.
"I love my conservative friends, I love MAGA. But this is also MAGA," said the leader.
"These individuals will teach our workers how to manufacture microchips, and soon it will be our own workers producing them. Then, they will be able to return to their countries," he emphasized.
Trump acknowledged that he has faced criticism for this position, even from sympathetic commentators like Fox News journalist Laura Ingraham, who questioned him for opening the door to labor immigration.
On that occasion, the president replied, “We also need to bring in talent.”
According to information published by AP, the president insisted that the United States cannot solely rely on domestic unemployment to meet the demand for personnel in advanced technology plants.
"You can't think that you can hire just anyone to run a chip or missile factory," he stated.
The president recalled that after an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia, hundreds of South Korean workers were expelled from the country, but later some were authorized to return.
"I said, 'Stop him, don't be stupid.' We need them here to teach our people," Trump recounted.
The speech reflects a pragmatic shift in its immigration policy, traditionally focused on border control and visa restrictions.
Now, the White House –it seems– is promoting the entry of foreign talent as part of its plan for reindustrialization and technological self-sufficiency.
Although Donald Trump has been one of the toughest leaders on immigration issues, he has shown nuances in his rhetoric on several occasions, especially regarding the economic usefulness of certain groups of immigrants.
In April, the former president surprised many by suggesting that certain types of deportations should be halted, particularly those affecting workers with valuable skills or strong community ties.
Two months later, his administration analyzed a proposal to create a temporary permit that would allow qualified immigrants to work without a permanent visa, in sectors where there is a labor shortage, such as the technology industry, advanced manufacturing, or critical infrastructure.
He has even publicly acknowledged that American agriculture relies heavily on the work of immigrants, suggesting that the country's fields could be left untended if mass deportations were carried out without an effective replacement policy.
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