Andrew Ng Criticizes White House Green Card Policy, Says It Will Weaken US AI Talent Competitiveness

On May 22, 2026, Stanford professor Andrew Ng published a long post on X, directly criticizing the White House's latest green card policy. He wrote in the post: "The new White House policy requiring green card applicants to file from outside the US is an erratic attack on legal immigration."

Core Policy Changes and Immediate Consequences

The policy adjustment changes the process, which previously allowed adjustment of status within the US, to requiring applicants to apply from overseas. This means H-1B holders, OPT students, and their dependents who are already working or studying in the US may be forced to leave the country while waiting for approval. Ng specifically emphasized that this will lead to family separation and reduce the pool of professional talent available in the US.

It will hurt families, leave us with fewer doctors, teachers, and scientists, and damage US competitiveness in AI.

Actual Impact on AI Talent Mobility

The AI field relies heavily on international talent. According to past data, more than half of researchers in top US AI labs were born abroad. Requiring overseas applications will extend processing times and increase uncertainty. Many engineers already working in Silicon Valley may choose to return to their home countries or move to Canada and Europe to avoid immigration status disruptions.

• Lab recruitment cycles may be extended by 3-6 months
• Some startups have already paused interviews with international candidates
• Students who have received offers face the risk of delayed start dates

Shifts in the Global AI Talent Competition Landscape

This US move may accelerate talent outflow to other countries. Canada's Express Entry system, the UK's High Potential Individual visa, and Singapore's Global Investor Programme have already begun introducing streamlined processes targeting AI talent. Ng's criticism has been echoed by tech executives like Helen Toner, who have discussed on X how the policy might weaken US leadership in foundation models and application development.

Reactions from Silicon Valley and Academia

Several AI companies in Silicon Valley have begun internal assessments of talent retention plans. Some university career development offices are advising international students to reevaluate their post-graduation plans to stay in the US. Academia worries that in the long term, more AI PhDs trained at US universities may choose to work abroad, breaking the domestic innovation chain.

Policy details are still being refined, but what is confirmed shows that the overseas application process will directly alter the retention pathway for AI talent. Ng's public statement provides a clear tech sector perspective to this discussion.