President Donald Trump’s policy of prioritizing American college students over foreigners “is a welcome change,” according to a staff columnist Yale University’s student newspaper.
Under the new policy, “international students may only complete internships if employers have a partnership with their school, and the practical job training is required for all students, American and international alike, enrolled in their course of study,” the Wall Street Journal previously reported.
In reaction, universities have begun reviewing and freezing what are called “curricular practical training” internships.
The changes have drawn praise even from Tom Dawber, who says he generally opposes President Trump.
The Yale Daily News staff columnist wrote:
Donald Trump is terrible for this country, and in no way am I excusing the damage he has already done and continues to do. But we should resist the temptation to dismiss out of hand everything his administration does. Just because an edict comes from the desk of the 47th president, that most imperfect of messengers, doesn’t mean it’s evil, un-American or even necessarily wrong.
This new regulatory interpretation is a restriction on the opportunities of international students. But that restriction serves to protect the opportunities of American students. Limiting international students only to internships that are required to complete their programs increases the chances for American students to earn competitive positions.
He points out it is already hard enough for new college graduates to find jobs.
“An internship that goes to an international student necessarily is an internship that isn’t going to an American student,” Dawber argues. “The federal government has the right and the responsibility to ensure that its own people are taken care of before opening these limited opportunities up to international workers.”
Read the full column here.
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