President Trump Announces Plans For Legal Immigration Reform

President Trump isn’t just cracking down on illegal immigration. He wants to implement serious legal immigration reform too. Yes liberals, there’s a difference!

On Wednesday, he announced new legislation along with Sens. Tom Cotton and David Perdue. The legislation in question would establish a  “merit-based point system for foreigners who apply for legal permanent status through the employment-based admissions side.”

“The RAISE Act ends chain migration and replaces our low-scale system with a points-based system,” Pres. Trump says https://t.co/HQUEtUPDla pic.twitter.com/OO9fhDesse

— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 2, 2017

In other words, the bill would establish a standard– a standard to encourage the best, brightest and most motivated to come here.

U.S. immigration system is “over a half century old. It is an obsolete disaster, and it’s time for it to change,” Sen. Tom Cotton says pic.twitter.com/96zJNV9KKa

— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 2, 2017

Many say the current immigration system is outdated, giving those with family ties preference over others. This new legislation would shift us to a more skills based system (and yes, the English language is preferred).

The current legal immigration system often benefits family members of current U.S. residents, but Perdue and Cotton are pushing for a change that would force the U.S. to weigh the skill sets of potential candidates and favor those with more skills. The new version outlines how the specific demands of the U.S. workforce would determine which immigrants are needed, and thus, granted visas.

 

The revised RAISE Act steals a page from Canada and Australia, whose immigration laws prioritize high-skilled workers for employment-based green cards. The number of skills-based visas would increase under the proposal though businesses could rely more on outsourcing jobs to cheaper employees in other countries.

In addition, this bill would prevent new immigrants from collecting welfare, which is AWESOME.

"This legislation demonstrates our compassion for struggling American families," Pres. Trump says https://t.co/HQUEtUPDla pic.twitter.com/3tkRZoRkVz

— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 2, 2017

This would ultimately slash legal immigration by half.

If passed, the 1 million legal immigrants who enter the U.S. annually would drop to somewhere between 500,000 and 600,000 people by 2027, putting it in line with historic norms.

 

Refugee admissions would also be capped at 50,000 per year, the 13-year average despite a recent increase of Syrian refugees.

Ann Coulter is stoked.

.@realDonaldTrump announces 1st change to immigration policy in 50 years!!!!!! We will FINALLY take immigrants who are better than us!

— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) August 2, 2017

#RAISE act will create a skills-based immigration system that will make America more competitive, raise wages for Americans, & create jobs

— Microsingularity (@Microsingular) August 2, 2017

A PROMISE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE: The RAISE Act follows through on @POTUS promise to the reform our immigration system to put America first.

— Bruce LeVell (@Bruce_LeVell) August 2, 2017

–@WhiteHouse statement: @POTUS supports the #RAISE Act to prioritize immigrants based on skills while safeguarding US workers' jobs.

— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) August 2, 2017

Liberals are triggered. Shocker.

Trump's new legal immigration plan, The RAISE Act, involves a very nuanced and complex evaluation plan called "Profiling"

— Marie Connor (@thistallawkgirl) August 2, 2017

#raiseact: brought to you by mediocre old white guys who wouldn't qualify as highly skilled workers if they were immigrants. pic.twitter.com/tvecxjCLVl

— Bethany Khan (@BethanyKhan) August 2, 2017

Now I am pissed! This RAISE ACT is disgusting. GO FUCK YOURSELF TRUMP. You can't even speak English nor your wife.

— donaldtrumpnewstoday (@irishrygirl) August 2, 2017

Actually, Melania speaks six languages and isn’t a welfare leech, so someone like her would totally qualify. Thanks for playing though!

Trump is rolling out his new merit based immigration system called the RAISE ACT.

Do you know what that merit system is based on? pic.twitter.com/Z4kFDpgaNn

— Red T Raccoon (@RedTRaccoon) August 2, 2017

Um, yeah. Actual Skills.

I'm so sick of patronizing white politicians trying to create a system that clearly only benefits them. #raiseact

— Bethany Khan (@BethanyKhan) August 2, 2017

You don’t want to be choosy about who comes here? You’re cool preferring welfare leeches over skilled workers who actually want to assimilate and pursue the American dream?

#RAISEact is nothing more than a race act implemented by white men. I cannot believe this is happening. This is a scary time for America.

— Jessica (@JLA9178) August 2, 2017

#raiseact let the bigotting begin!

— Steve R (@radkeyshadow) August 2, 2017

Immigration reform is long overdue. Why can’t we be picky about who we allow to come into the country? Not all immigrants are welfare leeches. I get that. But some of them are. Why is it wrong to prefer skilled workers who are willing to assimilate over those who will just suck the system dry? As Rush Limbaugh asked, why are we expected to be the welfare state of the world forever and ever?

Prove you want to be here. Show a little effort. That’s all we ask.