There are several misconceptions here. First, foreign students rarely can apply for green cards, since student visas are not dual/immigrant intent. Instead the process usually starts after they get a job. And you can get fired from the job regardless of whether you have a BS or PhD. Also, most PhD students have a stipend and tuition waiver paid for by the university in exchange for teaching and research duties. Almost no PhD student pays the university a dime. MS is another story.
There is a demand for people with scientific and data skills and not enough natives hold these qualifications. However, I do agree that the education system is broken and the main reason why native born citizens don’t pursue higher studies is that they are usually under the burden of large educational loans.
There is also a smaller issue that liberal arts is a common choice for American students, which makes many of them unemployable. However, perhaps due to cultural pressure, many Indians and Chinese end up in science and engineering, which are in very high demand.
There is a demand for people with scientific and data skills and not enough natives hold these qualifications. However, I do agree that the education system is broken and the main reason why native born citizens don’t pursue higher studies is that they are usually under the burden of large educational loans.
There is also a smaller issue that liberal arts is a common choice for American students, which makes many of them unemployable. However, perhaps due to cultural pressure, many Indians and Chinese end up in science and engineering, which are in very high demand.