LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman raised concerns over the new US green card policy, questioning whether AI researchers, skilled workers, and international students could be forced to leave America due to lengthy immigration delays.
The Trump administration’s newly announced immigration policy has sparked major backlash from the US technology sector. Under the new rule, many immigrants seeking permanent residency, commonly known as a Green Card, will now be required to leave the United States and apply from their home country instead of completing the process while staying in America. The decision has raised serious concerns among technology leaders, entrepreneurs, and immigration experts who believe it could damage America’s global competitiveness.
Previously, many immigrants living and working legally in the US on visas such as H-1B could apply for a Green Card through a process called “Adjustment of Status” without leaving the country. However, the new policy significantly limits this option and forces applicants to complete the process abroad except in rare circumstances. Critics argue that this move will create uncertainty for skilled workers, disrupt businesses, and separate families.
One of the strongest reactions came from Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn. Hoffman questioned the impact of the rule on researchers, employees, and students working in advanced technology fields, especially artificial intelligence. In a social media post, he asked whether AI researchers and students would now be forced to leave the country and wait through long backlogs before continuing their work. He described the decision as a “harmful move for tech, business, and America broadly.”
Similarly, Andrew Ng, the co-founder of Coursera and one of the most respected voices in artificial intelligence, strongly criticized the policy. Ng called the rule a “capricious attack” on legal immigration and warned that it would hurt families and weaken America’s ability to attract global talent. According to him, the country risks losing doctors, scientists, teachers, engineers, and AI experts who play a major role in driving innovation and economic growth. He also stated that America’s leadership in artificial intelligence could suffer because of these restrictions.
The US technology industry has historically depended heavily on skilled immigrants, particularly from countries like India and China. Many of the engineers, developers, startup founders, and AI researchers working in Silicon Valley are immigrants who arrived through employment-based visa programs. Experts fear that forcing Green Card applicants to leave the country could create major disruptions for companies already struggling with talent shortages.
Several startup investors and business leaders also expressed concern that the new rule could push skilled workers to relocate to countries with more welcoming immigration systems, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, or Singapore. This could lead to a “brain drain” where highly educated professionals choose to build their careers outside the United States.
Supporters of the policy, however, argue that it is intended to restore the original purpose of temporary visas. According to officials from USCIS, temporary work visas were never meant to become an automatic pathway to permanent residency. The administration believes the change will strengthen immigration enforcement and reduce misuse of the system.
Despite that argument, immigration experts say the policy may create more problems than solutions. The Green Card system already suffers from massive delays and backlogs, especially for applicants from countries with high demand like India. Requiring people to return to their home countries could make waiting times even longer and increase uncertainty for employers and workers alike.
The debate surrounding this immigration rule goes beyond politics. It directly affects America’s future in technology, innovation, and artificial intelligence. At a time when countries around the world are competing aggressively for global talent, critics believe that making immigration more difficult could weaken the United States’ position as a global technology leader.
As the controversy grows, many in the tech industry are expected to continue pushing back against the policy. Legal challenges and political debates are also likely in the coming months, making immigration one of the most closely watched issues for the American technology sector.
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