It is called ‘value-added’ and it really is the only sane immigration standard. If you cannot contribute, you cannot come, period. Deal with it, Muslim refugees.
Fixed it.
“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.