President Trump has propose to introduce the RAISE ACT, a new bill restricting legal immigration.
Among many resolutions, the new bill would introduce a “point-based” system, reducing the number of “family-sponsored immigrants” and creating a new “non-immigrant classification” for the parents of adult United States citizens.
The bill developed by Republican senators Tom Cotton (Arkansas) and David Perdue (Georgia) is a merit-based points system which would cut legal immigration by 50% over 10 years.
For new applicants, the RAISE ACT would grant highly-skilled English speakers more favor in gaining admission. Applicants would have to get at least 30 points to gain admission. Examples:
Education: Doctorate (13 points), High School diploma (1 point); Age: over 50 old (no points), younger (1-10 according to age); English proficiency would be judged by a test; Salary (13 points); Investments: over a $1.8 million (12 points); Achievements: Olympic Medal (15 points), Nobel Prize (25 points)
The bill also aims to end the diversity visa lottery, which allows 50,000 people from underrepresented countries to obtain green cards and sets a 50,000 annual cap on refugees. Under the proposal the number of Permanent Residence Cards (Green Cards) would be cut and given to just over 500,000 people a year.
The RAISE ACT (the initials stand for Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment) is likely to face resistance in Congress from Democrats and some Republicans.
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