“productivity-boosting white-collar immigrants”
This is not what Trump said. The author is equating “skilled” with “white collar”.
“Skilled” can mean machinists, welders, refinery operators, steel mill workers, etc. None of which are “white collar” and yet people we actually will have a shortage of if we embark on the kind of re-industrialization of America and rebuilding of American infrastructure we need.
We have enough Americans to fill these jobs. Wages will go up making more people enter the work force. Your statement is poppy cock. The whole point of re industrialization is to put AMERICANS back to work. Sheesh.