Silicon Valley's Trump supporters touted the GOP ticket's pro-tech stances this week but notably avoided discussion of immigration.

Why it matters: Immigrants have been key to the American tech industry.

The big picture: Trump has been largely hostile to immigration throughout his political career — and not just with regard to illegal immigration.

• While in office, he signed an executive order curtailing green card availability, sidelined the International Entrepreneur Rule, banned travel from some majority-Muslim countries, and suggested in an interview with Axios on HBO that he planned to revoke birthright citizenship, among other moves.
• And his team quickly walked back his recent statement on David Sacks' podcast that all foreign students who graduate from an American university should get a green card, saying it "would only apply to the most thoroughly vetted college graduates who would never undercut American wages or workers."

Trump's VP selection, Sen. J.D. Vance, has consistently framed immigration as detrimental to U.S. citizens.

• "We're done importing foreign labor. We're going to fight for American citizens and their good jobs and their good wages," he said during his Republican National Convention speech Wednesday.
• He's also spoken out against H1-B visas (despite a number of companies he backed as a venture capitalist using the program to employ foreign-born workers).

Case in point: During their 90-minute podcast discussing their support for Trump, famed investors Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz never discuss immigration.

Between the lines: It's possible these Trump supporters believe immigration is an area (among others) in which they can get a reasonable compromise out of his administration, so they're not too worried about campaign rhetoric.

Reality check: That's a risky bet given Trump's history of shifting his stance on various issues (see Tik Tok, and crypto, among others).

My thought bubble: Immigration has been almost universally supported in the tech industry.

• Seeing tech leaders, some of whom immigrated themselves, trade support for immigrants in exchange for other priorities is perplexing.

The Department of Homeland Security last week rolled out additional guidance for the International Entrepreneur Rule, the closest thing the U.S. has to a "startup visa."

Why it matters: The IER provides support for non-U.S. entrepreneurs to establish and build their startups in this country.

How it works: Granted by the Department of Homeland Security, the program is not a formal visa but rather a "parole" status for foreign entrepreneurs who want to enter the country.

• The program sets certain criteria for candidates to be allowed into the country to work on their company for 2½ years, with the option to apply for an additional 2½ years.
• While on the parole status, they can apply for formal visas.
• Spouses of these entrepreneurs can also apply for work authorization.

Flashback: Created during the Obama administration, and initially set to roll out in 2017, it wasn't implemented until 2021 after the Trump administration delayed its rollout and signaled plans to kill it off.

Between the lines: The DHS published additional and clearer information about which entrepreneurs and startups can qualify, probably in an effort to boost the program.

• Since its implementation in 2021, the department has approved only 26 cases out of 94 applications. Twenty-eight have been rejected, and 40 are pending or have been withdrawn.

Yes, but: As we noted in 2021, the IER is not a panacea for foreign-born founders. A true "startup visa" can be created only by Congress.

• The International Entrepreneur Rule is just a first step (Axios)
• The 'extraordinary alien underground' helping tech's skilled immigrants grab visas (SF Standard)
• The Silicon Valley realignment leading tech titans to Trump (Washington Post)

Question: How many members of the U.S. Congress are immigrants or children of immigrants? (Answer at the bottom.)