The transfer of U.S. white-collar jobs to foreign graduates has seen a notable increase under Acting President Joe Biden, as outlined by the Department of Homeland Security.
This is concerning news, as detailed in a report from June 5 by the Department of Homeland Security. It indicated a significant rise in job transfers via hands-on training through the Optional Practical Training (OPT) work permit program:
In 2024, the total number of foreign graduates obtaining work permits through OPT reached 194,554, while an additional 95,384 secured jobs via the STEM OPT sub-program, and 130,586 foreign undergraduate students were granted permits through Curricular Practical Training (CPT).
This marks a 21% increase for OPT compared to 2023 and a staggering 54% increase for STEM OPT.
The report further noted that the total count of unique foreign students with work permits in 2024 stood at 381,140, including 165,524 from the two-year STEM OPT program.
Information shared on the DHS website indicated that the number of university immigrants in employment jumped from 2020 to 399,909 as of the employment start date in 2024.
Interestingly, the data might not account for many of the 62,306 STEM OPT immigrants who may have started working on two-year permits last year, potentially underreporting the actual number of university immigrants in the workforce.
The issuance of around 400,000 work permits to foreign graduates could have profound effects on the approximate 800,000 Americans with four-year degrees in technology-oriented fields such as business, science, and healthcare. Census data from 2021 indicated an alarming trend of Americans being edged out of technology positions they trained for.
Nationally, businesses are likely to leverage various visa programs, like the H-1B visa, to keep at least 1.5 million foreign workers in roles that many Americans desire.
Biden’s immigration policies, notably expanded by Alejandro Mayorkas, have broadened the OPT program to classify several non-technical degrees as eligible for STEM designation. In January 2022, Mayorkas added courses like forestry and environmental studies to the STEM-OPT categories.
It’s worth noting that many immigrants often rely on ethnic networks for employment, raising concerns about fairness in the job market. These programs also serve as pathways for immigrants to obtain H-1B visas and pursue citizenship in the U.S.
Overall, foreign students benefit from university payments, enabling them to get four-year work permits irrespective of their educational quality. This system is adding approximately $40 billion annually to college and university revenues.
The extension of this foreign student program happened quietly, initiated by Biden’s representatives without Congressional consent. Additionally, employers are incentivized with a tax credit to hire international graduates in lieu of American workers.
In contrast, Trump has announced intentions to reduce the number of foreign students by half, suggesting a preference for U.S. students in universities like Harvard, emphasizing that foreign student enrollment has affected access for domestic applicants.
Data from 2024 revealed that Harvard University had 2,366 students on OPT work permits, and another 2,218 on J-1 visas, often affiliated with university research funding.
Trump is also leveraging student visa management to ensure universities comply with federal civil rights laws, intending to curb allegedly unfair diversity initiatives and limit cooperation with China. “Without international students, Harvard is not Harvard,” is a claim made in a lawsuit concerning admission practices.
In 2024, the largest group entering the work permit program came from India, with 422,235 students or workers, while China accounted for 329,541.
India’s surge in university immigrants has been significant since 2020, when only 207,460 Indian students were registered in U.S. universities, with STEM-OPT enrollments at 63,744 in 2019.
Substantial shifts in industrial policy aim to transition mixed-skilled graduates from countries like India into white-collar positions in the U.S., contributing to a notable increase in their presence.
The majority of foreign students extending their OPT in STEM fields were primarily from India (48.0%) and China (20.4%).
The CPT and OPT programs are part of a broader set of visa initiatives that are ensuring 1.5 million foreign graduates fill white-collar jobs in the U.S., posing challenges for American professionals regarding job opportunities and salary progression.
Discussions around work permit programs often gloss over their impact on American workers, typically presenting them in a favorable light. For instance, an Associated Press report noted that many international students are concerned about their futures as opportunities dwindle.
Many international students, like Marco, 29, who found himself anxious as his optional practical training period was coming to a close, worry about their precarious situation within a tightening job market.
As the AP article suggests, the path forward seems increasingly uncertain for international students, particularly under the scrutiny of shifting policies that some believe would limit visa availability.
Reports rarely cover the adverse effects on American workers, such as the experiences of those in fields like engineering, who are seeing their opportunities impacted by the influx of foreign talent.
STEM graduates often find the job landscape challenging, worrying about competition from foreign students who are getting hired in sectors where they trained.
This lack of discussion in the media minimizes the awareness of white-collar job outsourcing that threatens the livelihoods of many Americans.
The influx of foreign workers is creating challenges for American graduates, especially as conditions in the job market for young professionals continue to worsen. Reports have indicated rising unemployment rates among recent graduates.
The job market has significantly declined for new graduates in early 2025, with an increasing unemployment rate reported. Notably, computer engineering graduates faced a 7.5% unemployment rate, while computer science graduates recorded a 6.1% unemployment rate.
Concerns about this job market shift for educated young individuals have been highlighted in various reports, signaling a troubling trend for graduates seeking employment.
