If Donald Trump goes for merit-based immigration in US, here's what happens
ET Online|
Nov 02, 2017, 07.01 PM IST
Tuesday night's truck attack in New York City has given US President Donald Trump a reason to press ahead with what he had been promising for long—merit-based immigration.
During his first address to the US Congress in February, Trump called for the adoption of a merit-based immigration system and praised Canada and Australia for using the point-based system.
"Nations around the world, like Canada, Australia and many others, have a merit-based immigration system. It is a basic principle that those seeking to enter a country ought to be able to support themselves financially. Yet, in America, we do not enforce this rule, straining the very public resources that our poorest citizens rely upon. According to the National Academy of Sciences, our current immigration system costs America's taxpayers many billions of dollars a year," Trump said, addressing the Congress.
What would a merit-based immigration system mean for those who want to live in the US and who all will be affected by it?
The biggest impact will be on families of immigrants who can be sponsored and invited to the US. Under the current family-based immigration, also called "chain immigration", an immigrant can sponsor spouse and children and also members of the extended family. Currently, most of lawful immigrants in the US come through family sponsorship. According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, in 2015, 65 per cent of those granted lawful residencies petitioned for family-sponsored visas as opposed to the 14 percent of new immigrants admitted through employment or skills.
The merit-based system will select immigrants based on education, skills, work experience, language proficiency and age. The main argument for a merit-based system is that it favours immigrants who being skilled are in a position to contribute to the American economy. Low-skilled immigrants under the current family-based system bring wages down and get more out of the economy than contributing to it.
The merit-based system helps Silicon Valley which looks for highly educated workers. Low-skilled immigrants are mainly employed in the hospitality, health care and food sectors. The reduced number of low-skilled workers will impact these sectors.
Those who support a merit-based system argue that high-skilled immigrants are more likely to assimilate in the American mainstream due to English language proficiency and cultural awareness. Those in support of family-based system argue that immigrants not assimilating in the mainstream contribute to cultural diversity.
Fewer people entering into the US on sponsorship under family-based system would impact most of the immigrant workers who can now invite their family members without much hassles.
Canada and Australia have points-based immigration system where candidates are scored on the basis of age, education, language proficiency, etc.
During his first address to the US Congress in February, Trump called for the adoption of a merit-based immigration system and praised Canada and Australia for using the point-based system.
"Nations around the world, like Canada, Australia and many others, have a merit-based immigration system. It is a basic principle that those seeking to enter a country ought to be able to support themselves financially. Yet, in America, we do not enforce this rule, straining the very public resources that our poorest citizens rely upon. According to the National Academy of Sciences, our current immigration system costs America's taxpayers many billions of dollars a year," Trump said, addressing the Congress.
What would a merit-based immigration system mean for those who want to live in the US and who all will be affected by it?
The biggest impact will be on families of immigrants who can be sponsored and invited to the US. Under the current family-based immigration, also called "chain immigration", an immigrant can sponsor spouse and children and also members of the extended family. Currently, most of lawful immigrants in the US come through family sponsorship. According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, in 2015, 65 per cent of those granted lawful residencies petitioned for family-sponsored visas as opposed to the 14 percent of new immigrants admitted through employment or skills.
The merit-based system will select immigrants based on education, skills, work experience, language proficiency and age. The main argument for a merit-based system is that it favours immigrants who being skilled are in a position to contribute to the American economy. Low-skilled immigrants under the current family-based system bring wages down and get more out of the economy than contributing to it.
The merit-based system helps Silicon Valley which looks for highly educated workers. Low-skilled immigrants are mainly employed in the hospitality, health care and food sectors. The reduced number of low-skilled workers will impact these sectors.
Those who support a merit-based system argue that high-skilled immigrants are more likely to assimilate in the American mainstream due to English language proficiency and cultural awareness. Those in support of family-based system argue that immigrants not assimilating in the mainstream contribute to cultural diversity.
Fewer people entering into the US on sponsorship under family-based system would impact most of the immigrant workers who can now invite their family members without much hassles.
Canada and Australia have points-based immigration system where candidates are scored on the basis of age, education, language proficiency, etc.
