"They get to stay in America" - Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary proposes a golden ticket for Harvard's foreign grads

Shark Tank investor Kevin O'Leary, in a recent video on his Instagram, criticized the international student order for kids studying at Harvard and other universities and provided an alternative for the same.

He suggested a new reform that would grant international students a golden ticket to stay in the United States after graduation. This will only be done after they complete a process, which the Shark Tank investor calls 'pre-admission vetting.' It will also require them to complete their studies in good standing.

Kevin talked about a solution in reference to the recent federal orders that have led to visa blocks of students from universities like MIT and Harvard.

His proposition is straightforward and suggests that if international students are thoroughly vetted before being admitted and graduate with good academic and behavioral standing, then they should automatically earn the right to remain in the United States. Explaining, he said,

"I'm suggesting a whole new model for Harvard. This may be a difficult negotiation but there should be this option. I would extend this to every institution in the United States, MIT, Temple, etc.

Continuing, he added,

For their foreign student body, if they're willing to go through a vetting process prior to admittance, and they graduate in good standing, boom, golden ticket. They get to stay in America, start a family, create a business, work in the economy, create jobs, 'cause that's what we should do. That's what should happen, 100% of the time."

Shark Tank investor Kevin O'Leary criticizes US immigration and visa policy for international students

Kevin O'Leary, the Shark Tank investor, expressed his opinions about the recent US orders related to international students and their visas. This has left thousands of kids in limbo over technicalities and their uncertain future in the country.

Kevin, pointing that out, said,

"There's something very broken about a model where you have a whole institution whose only mandate is to curate the very best cohorts every year from all around the world, regardless of politics, regardless of geography, race, religion, doesn't matter.

He continued,

Why in the world, when they finish their education, would you kick them out of the country? Why would you do that? I mean, how could that possibly be a good idea? And yet, that's what happens."

The comments made by the Shark Tank investor represent a broader view shared by many educators and economists as well and policymakers about the standing that the United States has on skilled immigration.

Even though the US might be attracting the brightest minds from around the world to their country, tough visa processes and immigration policies make it hard for them to stay.

International students, if they stay in the country, contribute to the US economy. It is because they pay tuition, rent, and taxes, and then, after their studies, also take part in research as well as innovation. However, the new visa system treats them as temporary guests rather than long-term assets, which Kevin thinks is wrong.

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Shark Tank season 16 episodes are available to stream online via Hulu.

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