President Donald Trump and Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and David Perdue (R-Ga.) on Wednesday unveiled a plan at the White House to overhaul the rules for legal immigrants, a proposal that would slash numbers overall and focus on skilled immigrants, the White House said. The plan would cut legal immigration by 50 percent over 10 years by reducing the kinds of relatives immigrants can bring into the country.
"Right now, only one in 15 immigrants come here because of their skills. And we don't prioritize ultra-high-skilled immigrants," a White House official said, speaking on background ahead of the announcement, which is slated for 11:30 a.m. ET.
From NPR:
Their bill would do three things: First, limit the number of foreign nationals who are able to get green cards to reunite with their families already in the U.S. — currently the largest category of legal immigrants; second, cut the number of refugees in half; third, eliminate the diversity visa lottery — a program that gives visas to countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.
Meanwhile outside the White House, faith leaders called for protection of undocumented immigrants currently protected under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, who they say are at risk under a Trump administration.
Faith leaders and communities come together at a protect DACA rally. #weareheretostay #DefendDACA #GreaterAs1 pic.twitter.com/euBKokhzY8
— CWS (@CWS_global) August 2, 2017
"This administration must stop tearing families apart" #DefendDACA pic.twitter.com/2JVjQxzkYr
— Faith in Public Life (@TheRealFPL) August 2, 2017
Reuters reporting contributed to this story.
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