Donald Trump announces ‘merit-based’ immigration policy plan
Democrat opponents say president's proposals are ‘dead on arrival’
Donald Trump has unveiled plans for a new US immigration system designed to favour younger, better-educated, English-speaking workers.
Announcing the plan, the US president said he wants to move away from the current approach that favours applicants with family ties to the US. He also pledged that border security would be tightened and a stricter line taken on asylum seekers.
He boasted that his proposals would make US immigration “the envy of the modern world”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
However, The Guardian reports that “before the US President even stepped up to the lectern in the White House Rose Garden” opponents had “declared the sweeping reforms dead on arrival’”.
The Washington Post said Trump’s announcement “drew a cool reception” and CNN said the plan “faces an uphill battle for consensus even among the Republican Party's own ranks”.
CBS News said Democrats “would not support legislation that does not include a pathway to citizenship”.
The new policy is the outcome of months of talks between Trump’s senior adviser Jared Kushner and several conservative groups.
Trump says his proposals will use “an easy-to-navigate, point-based selection system” to determine eligibility.
“You will get more points for being a younger worker, meaning you will contribute more to our social safety net. You will get more points for having a valuable skill, an offer of employment, an advanced education or a plan to create jobs,” he said at the lectern.
The president said his plan wouldn't change the total number of green cards offered annually but would increase the proportion allocated to skilled workers.
“We want immigrants coming in. We cherish the open door that we want to create for our country,” he said. “But a big proportion of those immigrants must come in through merit and skill.”
Opposition to the plan is already strong. The Democratic speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, described it as “condescending” and dismissed Trump’s concept of “merit,” saying: "it’s non-merit - it means merit in the eyes of Donald Trump”.
Trump’s plans would have to be approved by Congress where Democrats currently control the lower house. “This dead-on-arrival plan is not a remotely serious proposal," said Pelosi.
Amnesty International described the reform as “an outrageous attempt to shut doors to everyone but the most wealthy and privileged individuals, circumventing human rights and legal obligations toward asylum-seekers”.
Australia and Canada both already use point-based systems to determine if someone qualifies to enter the country as a skilled worker.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Cicada-geddon: the fungus that controls insects like 'zombies'
Under The Radar Expert says bugs will develop 'hypersexualisation' despite their genitals falling off
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Is the Gaza war tearing US university campuses apart?
Today's Big Question Protests at Columbia University, other institutions, pit free speech against student safety
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Who will win the 2024 presidential election?
In Depth Election year is here. Who are pollsters and experts predicting to win the White House?
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
National Enquirer helped Trump in 2016, ex-boss says
Speed Read David Pecker says the tabloid published fabricated content to hurt Trump's rivals
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sitting in judgment on Trump
Opinion Who'd want to be on this jury?
By Susan Caskie Published
-
Myanmar: the Spring Revolution and the downfall of the generals
Talking Point An armed protest movement has swept across the country since the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi was overthrown in 2021
By The Week Staff Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is there a peaceful way forward for Israel and Iran?
Today's Big Question Tehran has initially sought to downplay the latest Israeli missile strike on its territory
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
How could the Supreme Court's Fischer v. US case impact the other Jan 6. trials including Trump's?
Today's Big Question A former Pennsylvania cop might hold the key to a major upheaval in how the courts treat the Capitol riot — and its alleged instigator
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published