By — Yamiche Alcindor Yamiche Alcindor Leave a comment 0comments Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/whats-in-trumps-immigration-proposal Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter What’s in Trump’s immigration proposal Politics Updated on May 16, 2019 4:43 PM EDT — Published on May 16, 2019 2:51 PM EDT President Donald Trump unveiled a new immigration plan Thursday aimed at overhauling the legal immigration system and pushing for a border security bill, though both Democrats and Republicans have signaled that the proposal has little to no chance of becoming law. Speaking from the Rose Garden, Trump said the plan would focus on getting the brightest and most talented immigrants into the country. “We discriminate against genius,” he said. “We discriminate against brilliance. We won’t anymore once we get this passed.” Trump said he hoped Democrats would support the plan, but warned if they didn’t he would pursue it after the 2020 election. “And if for some reason, possibly political, we can’t get the Democrats to approve this merit-based, high-security plan, than we will get it approved immediately after the election, when we take back the House, keep the Senate, and of course hold the presidency,” he said. The president’s plan comes after he has pursued tighter rules for asylum-seekers, threatened to shut down the border with Mexico entirely, and pursued a “zero tolerance” policy that led to thousands of immigrant children being separated from their families along the southern border. The effort also coincides with a recent spike in immigration; more than 100,000 migrants were apprehended or deemed inadmissible along the U.S.-Mexico border in both March and April, according to the latest data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Trump has argued that thousands of people are taking advantage of immigration policies that are out of date. But his immigration policies and rhetoric have been met with a fierce backlash from immigration activists and Democrats who say the president and his advisors are pursuing discriminatory and traumatizing plans. Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and a White House adviser, has been briefing Republican lawmakers about the latest proposal. WHAT’S IN THE PLAN? Changes to Legal Immigration System Keeps immigration numbers the same: The proposal keeps the numbers of immigrants coming to the United States the same while changing the composition of people entering the U.S. A senior administration official Wednesday said this approach is seen as a way to compromise between immigration hardliners who want reductions in the overall number of immigrants and immigration advocates who want the United States to take in more people. Focus on merit and skills, rather than family ties or humanitarian needs: Currently about 12 percent of people come to the United States for skill-based reasons. The president wants to dramatically increase that number to 57 percent. Another 66 percent of immigrants come to the country with ties to family members, and 22 percent come because of humanitarian needs or through seeking asylum. The White House plan would decrease the number of people who enter the country because of family ties to 33 percent, and 10 percent of people would be allowed in for humanitarian needs. READ MORE: 4 myths about how immigrants affect the U.S. economy Change to family immigration rules: The president’s plan would limit the types of family members who can be sponsored to come to the United States to children and spouses. That would eliminate the ability for others, like parents and siblings, to come through family ties. Consolidate and simplify visa system: A senior administration official said the president’s plan would try to make it easier and quicker for people to obtain visas to come to the United States. Border Security Bill Homeland Security officers walk along the border wall at the San Ysidro border in San Diego, California, U.S., November 29, 2018. REUTERS/Chris Wattie Build walls along southern border: The proposal would devote a substantial amount of money to Trump’s signature campaign promise of building a physical barrier along the southern border. The new plan would focus on 33 key places that administration officials believe have become areas frequently targeted by drug dealers and human traffickers. Modernize ports of entry at the border: The plan would use technology and other new systems to upgrade ports of entry across the U.S. and Mexico border in an effort to better deal with drug smuggling and human trafficking issues. WHAT’S NOT IN THE PLAN? Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): The proposal does not mention any changes for immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as minors by parents or adults. Those immigrants, known as “Dreamers,” were protected under the Obama-era DACA program. Temporary Protected Status: The plan doesn’t address immigrants who have received temporary status to live in the United States because of natural disasters like earthquakes or hurricanes. Undocumented immigrants already living in the United States: Many Republicans have come out strongly against offering “amnesty” to undocumented immigrants living in the country. Many Democrats, on the other hand, have said they would like a “pathway to citizenship” for immigrants already living in the United States. The plan does neither. WHAT’S NEXT? White House senior advisor Jared Kushner (C) has been briefing Republican lawmakers about the latest proposal. File photo by REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst Both Democrats and Republicans have said they don’t expect the president’s plan to be law. Democrats “It is not a plan,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said in an interview Wednesday, echoing many in her party and the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives who have criticized the president’s proposal. “It’s not a true plan to reform the immigration system. It doesn’t address DACA or the 11 undocumented immigrants living in the United States.” A senior Democratic aide agreed and said the plan was a “non-starter.” That person added: “if you can’t manage to include a Dreamers provision, then your proposal isn’t going to be treated as serious.” READ MORE: How Trump has already changed immigration policy Republicans Members of Trump’s party have also have voiced concern. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a moderate whose vote would likely be crucial to any immigration bill becoming law, said she would not support legislation that didn’t address DACA in some fashion. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a close ally of the president, said “the White House’s plan is not designed to become law.” When asked about Graham’s comment and Collins’ concerns, a senior administration official said Wednesday that the president’s plan is aimed at starting negotiations for future changes. By — Yamiche Alcindor Yamiche Alcindor Yamiche Alcindor is the former White House correspondent for PBS NewsHour. @yamiche
President Donald Trump unveiled a new immigration plan Thursday aimed at overhauling the legal immigration system and pushing for a border security bill, though both Democrats and Republicans have signaled that the proposal has little to no chance of becoming law. Speaking from the Rose Garden, Trump said the plan would focus on getting the brightest and most talented immigrants into the country. “We discriminate against genius,” he said. “We discriminate against brilliance. We won’t anymore once we get this passed.” Trump said he hoped Democrats would support the plan, but warned if they didn’t he would pursue it after the 2020 election. “And if for some reason, possibly political, we can’t get the Democrats to approve this merit-based, high-security plan, than we will get it approved immediately after the election, when we take back the House, keep the Senate, and of course hold the presidency,” he said. The president’s plan comes after he has pursued tighter rules for asylum-seekers, threatened to shut down the border with Mexico entirely, and pursued a “zero tolerance” policy that led to thousands of immigrant children being separated from their families along the southern border. The effort also coincides with a recent spike in immigration; more than 100,000 migrants were apprehended or deemed inadmissible along the U.S.-Mexico border in both March and April, according to the latest data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Trump has argued that thousands of people are taking advantage of immigration policies that are out of date. But his immigration policies and rhetoric have been met with a fierce backlash from immigration activists and Democrats who say the president and his advisors are pursuing discriminatory and traumatizing plans. Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and a White House adviser, has been briefing Republican lawmakers about the latest proposal. WHAT’S IN THE PLAN? Changes to Legal Immigration System Keeps immigration numbers the same: The proposal keeps the numbers of immigrants coming to the United States the same while changing the composition of people entering the U.S. A senior administration official Wednesday said this approach is seen as a way to compromise between immigration hardliners who want reductions in the overall number of immigrants and immigration advocates who want the United States to take in more people. Focus on merit and skills, rather than family ties or humanitarian needs: Currently about 12 percent of people come to the United States for skill-based reasons. The president wants to dramatically increase that number to 57 percent. Another 66 percent of immigrants come to the country with ties to family members, and 22 percent come because of humanitarian needs or through seeking asylum. The White House plan would decrease the number of people who enter the country because of family ties to 33 percent, and 10 percent of people would be allowed in for humanitarian needs. READ MORE: 4 myths about how immigrants affect the U.S. economy Change to family immigration rules: The president’s plan would limit the types of family members who can be sponsored to come to the United States to children and spouses. That would eliminate the ability for others, like parents and siblings, to come through family ties. Consolidate and simplify visa system: A senior administration official said the president’s plan would try to make it easier and quicker for people to obtain visas to come to the United States. Border Security Bill Homeland Security officers walk along the border wall at the San Ysidro border in San Diego, California, U.S., November 29, 2018. REUTERS/Chris Wattie Build walls along southern border: The proposal would devote a substantial amount of money to Trump’s signature campaign promise of building a physical barrier along the southern border. The new plan would focus on 33 key places that administration officials believe have become areas frequently targeted by drug dealers and human traffickers. Modernize ports of entry at the border: The plan would use technology and other new systems to upgrade ports of entry across the U.S. and Mexico border in an effort to better deal with drug smuggling and human trafficking issues. WHAT’S NOT IN THE PLAN? Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): The proposal does not mention any changes for immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as minors by parents or adults. Those immigrants, known as “Dreamers,” were protected under the Obama-era DACA program. Temporary Protected Status: The plan doesn’t address immigrants who have received temporary status to live in the United States because of natural disasters like earthquakes or hurricanes. Undocumented immigrants already living in the United States: Many Republicans have come out strongly against offering “amnesty” to undocumented immigrants living in the country. Many Democrats, on the other hand, have said they would like a “pathway to citizenship” for immigrants already living in the United States. The plan does neither. WHAT’S NEXT? White House senior advisor Jared Kushner (C) has been briefing Republican lawmakers about the latest proposal. File photo by REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst Both Democrats and Republicans have said they don’t expect the president’s plan to be law. Democrats “It is not a plan,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said in an interview Wednesday, echoing many in her party and the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives who have criticized the president’s proposal. “It’s not a true plan to reform the immigration system. It doesn’t address DACA or the 11 undocumented immigrants living in the United States.” A senior Democratic aide agreed and said the plan was a “non-starter.” That person added: “if you can’t manage to include a Dreamers provision, then your proposal isn’t going to be treated as serious.” READ MORE: How Trump has already changed immigration policy Republicans Members of Trump’s party have also have voiced concern. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a moderate whose vote would likely be crucial to any immigration bill becoming law, said she would not support legislation that didn’t address DACA in some fashion. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a close ally of the president, said “the White House’s plan is not designed to become law.” When asked about Graham’s comment and Collins’ concerns, a senior administration official said Wednesday that the president’s plan is aimed at starting negotiations for future changes.