Posted on 08/02/2017 10:27:17 AM PDT by pgkdan
Trump joined Republican Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia on Wednesday to unveil new legislation aimed at reducing the number of visas granted to low-skilled immigrants.
The merit-based RAISE Act would would change the way the U.S. issues green cards to immigrants by using a point-based system.
Trump said the bill would represent the biggest change to the U.S. immigration system in half a century.
"For decades the United States has operated a very low-skilled immigration system issuing record numbers of green cards to low wage immigrants," Trump said. "This policy has placed substantial pressure on American workers, taxpayers and community resources."
Trump added that Americans hit the hardest by the current policy are "immigrants and very importantly minority workers competing for jobs against brand new arrivals."
Applicants earn points based on education, English-language ability, high-paying job offers, age, record of extraordinary achievement and entrepreneurial initiative.
He said the bill would reduce poverty, increase wages and save taxpayers billions and billions of dollars. It will do this by changing the way the U.S. issues green cards, Trump said.
Trump said the legislation will help ensure that newcomers to the U.S. will be assimilated.
Over 1 million immigrants are granted visas each year, and Cotton said that number puts “great downward pressure” on low-skilled American workers.
Perdue said the current immigration system keeps America from being competitive and does not meet the needs of the current U.S. economy.
2 Hours Ago
President Trump joined two GOP senators on Wednesday to unveil a new bill aimed at cutting legal immigration in half
The new legislation is expected to expand on a bill introduced by Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and David Perdue (R-GA) that would cut the number of immigrants granted legal residence in the U.S. by 41 percent in its first year and 50 percent over ten years.
The bill would also end the State Department's diversity visa lottery program, which awards green cards to people from countries with historically low levels of immigration to the U.S. in order to diversify the U.S. population.
The bill is also expected to cap the number of refugees given permanent residency at 50,000.
Over 1 million immigrants gained permanent residence in the U.S. in 2015, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Trump, Cotton and Perdue are expected to unveil the legislation at the White House at 11:30 a.m. EST.
Excellent news. MAGA
Seems like it goes after H2B visas and will cap H1B visas too. I need to do some research but at any rate I’m all for stemming the tide of replacement immigrants.
Let’s just hope the tech companies don’t abuse the new system the way they abused the old one.
Their Pals in the GOP have their backs the whole way.
Point-based system just as it’s done in advanced nations.
This is the way it should be done in the United States.
That's probably who it's aimed at.
Fantastic news.
overdue
Excellent. My daily dose of winning!
Except that the whole point of legal immigration since 1965 has been to flood the country with third world immigrants to replace white Christian Americans.
If this passes it will turn that whole strategy on it's ear.
In opposing this, democrats will be admitting: 1) We want unskilled immigrants; 2) We want immigrants who don’t speak English, and; 3) We want immigrants who can’t support themselves or their families.
A Better Deal.
And the whole purpose of the invasion from the south has been to replace blacks with workers who will work for slave wages. When, if ever, will black America wake up?
Bravo, Mr. President. Ending the diversity lottery alone would be a very good thing.
For decades the United States has operated a very low-skilled immigration system issuing record numbers of green cards to low wage immigrants future Democratic voters.
There. Fixed it.
If, as a result of this move, H-1B visa quotas go up from current levels then Trump loses my support.
Oh, the Diversity Lottery HAS to go.
The fact that some random bloke in Yemen can walk into our embassy and toss his name in the hat to win a Green Card is INSANE!!
In other words, our requirements for legal immigration are going to become about the same as the rest of the so-called free world ...
How dare he!?!?
The Pope and the bishops say that America exists so that the whole world can come here and collect welfare. That’s Christianity.
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