President Donald Trump endorsed a legislation that will slash the level of legal immigration into the United States.
The bill titled Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment (RAISE) Act replaces the permanent employment-immigration framework with a skill-based system that operates on the basis of individual merits.
Trump supported the effort from Republican Sens. David Perdue and Tom Cotton in a “merit-based system” act which targets at issuing green cards for extended family members of the U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. While it will be regulating chances for grown children and siblings, minor children and spouses would still be eligible to apply for green cards.
The new application process will support those who have skills that will help the U.S. economy, can communicate in English and are capable of financially fending themselves and their families
The legislation would put an end the State Department’s Diversity visa lottery, by allotting only 50000 visas for the 2018 fiscal year.
It also has a cap of 50000 on the number of refugees accepted which is about half of the Obama administration’s target for 2017.
The current system also termed as “lottery system” by the POTUS, has over the decades allowed a number of immigrants to come to the country to work or to join kinfolks residing legally.
Trump during his address recalled his campaign promise on creating a merit-based immigration system that protects U.S. workers and taxpayers.
However, the Raise Act must pass through both houses of Congress before it becomes law.
