Amid calls to crack down on illegal immigration, President Trump has indicated support for adopting a merit-based system of immigration in the U.S.
Amid calls to crack down on illegal immigration, President Trump has indicated support for adopting a merit-based system of immigration in the U.S.
During his recent address to Congress, he said that the approach, used by Canada, Australia, and other countries, is based on “a basic principle that those seeking to enter a country ought to be able to support themselves financially.”
Trump also added, that the system “will save countless dollars, raise workers’ wages, and help struggling families — including immigrant families — enter the middle class.”
According to the New York Times, “Mr. Trump did not say how the government would carry out the changes he envisions. But he cited Canada’s merit-based system, in which immigrants are awarded points according to their educational and employment background, language proficiency and financial means, among other considerations. The highest scorers get priority for admission.”
USA Today points out that as opposed to the U.S. which gives 63 percent of green cards based on family ties and 13 percent based on economic backgrounds, the reverse is true in Canada, with 63 percent receiving permanent residency based on economics and 24 percent on family.
The U.S. had a more merit-based system until the 1950s when families began to be a primary driver.
CNN Money notes that while some lawmakers support Trump's approach, critics have said that it would reduce the number of low-skilled workers the country relies on, among other concerns.
