The Stream

Will Trump’s immigration plan hurt the US economy?

Government plan to introduce a points-based system divides opinion.

US President Donald Trump is receiving mixed reaction over his administration’s plan to drastically overhaul the country’s immigration policy.

Currently roughly one million immigrants to the United States receive permanent status each year, but the Trump administration hopes adopting a new points-based system will  reduce that number by half. The proposed legislation would curb the current “chain migration” system while giving English-speakers priority when obtaining US residency cards. The plan also limits the number of refugees granted permanent status to 50,000 a year.

Proponents of the bill say it protects American workers and that the system is similar to policies in place in Canada, which claims to have the “most prosperous and successful immigrant population“. But opponents of the bill feel it would slow the nation’s economic growth by reducing the country’s workforce.

So is a skill-based immigration policy a good idea? Weigh in as those on both sides of the debate present their case.

On this episode of The Stream, we speak with:

Robert Law @FAIRImmigration
Government Relations Director, Federation for American Immigration Reform
fairus.org

Joel Sandaluk @JoelSandaluk
Immigration lawyer
migrationlaw.com

Gonzalo Mercado @GonzMercado
Executive Director, La Colmena
lacolmenanyc.org

Aisha Yaqoob @AAAJ_Atlanta
Policy Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta
advancingjustice-atlanta.org

What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.