Immigration Reform News 2017: Is a 'Merit-Based Immigration' the Solution?
Immigration has been a hot topic since president Donald Trump assumed power. Being the main platform during his campaign, people already expect an iron fist in implementing seemingly rash laws to uphold such feats, but recently it appears to be creating a definitive structure.
According to Bloomberg, president Trump may be resorting to what they call a "merit-based immigration," although details have not been clarified as of this moment. South Carolina Republican senator Lindsey Graham, however, has some ideas summarized in three steps that he feels would work well with such an endeavor.
The first step is a combination of two actions, mainly the deportation of who are labeled "the bad dudes," while legalizing immigrants who arrived in America as minors. He feels that the Republicans will be open to such a move, and that the Democrats will unlikely block a motion that safeguards the future of children.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
The second step concerns the areas of agriculture and tourism. He feels that legalizing illegal immigrants working in these fields will be necessary, while employers should use the e-Verify program to ensure they get legal workers.
Lastly, the remaining illegal immigrants will have to get a favorable background-check score and then pay a fine in order to stay in the country. After which, the immigration focus should turn to highly skilled individuals, bringing in more talent.
While these sound more agreeable, it will have its downsides, The Buffalo News has learned. If this proposition gets enacted, the only immigrants that will be arriving are those that America needs, and that will just be very few.
As far as the Democrats are concerned, CNN reports that most, if not all, are still skeptical that such grand design could even push through as planned. Arizona Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego feels that Trump may not have the strength to see it through, and he might fold when things get rough.
It still remains to be seen if such policies will come to fruition, but at least a discussion is coming.
