> In many thousands of cases, you are also wrong about buying the degree: research grants to universities fund those students' tuition and stipends, in exchange for good work.
I think your parent was primarily referring to masters programs, not phd programs.
FWIW I am pro-immigration in general, but I do worry about expensive diploma mill masters programs becoming a way for wealthy immigrants to buy preferential treatment. It's a legitimate concern with any "masters == green card" scheme.
That said, anyone who opposes such a scheme for Ph.D. students or for highly quality masters programs is insane.