President Trump attempted to rally Democrats around the White House’s four-point immigration reform framework that addresses the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program with a tweet that states two-thirds of Americans support his proposal.
“Polling shows nearly 7 in 10 Americans support an immigration reform package that includes DACA, fully secures the border, ends chain migration & cancels the visa lottery. If D’s oppose this deal, they aren’t serious about DACA-they just want open borders,” Trump tweeted Tuesday morning in reference to a January poll by Harvard-Harris.
Polling shows nearly 7 in 10 Americans support an immigration reform package that includes DACA, fully secures the border, ends chain migration & cancels the visa lottery. If D’s oppose this deal, they aren’t serious about DACA-they just want open borders. https://t.co/XDMcDOr9vM
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 6, 2018
The White House’s proposal would end the diversity visa lottery and replace it with a skills-based system.
“We need a 21st century MERIT-BASED immigration system. Chain migration and the visa lottery are outdated programs that hurt our economic and national security,” Trump continued.
We need a 21st century MERIT-BASED immigration system. Chain migration and the visa lottery are outdated programs that hurt our economic and national security. https://t.co/rP9Gtr2E5N
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 6, 2018
Originally, the White House asked for border security funding in exchange for a law that gives DACA recipients a pathway to citizenship.
Last August, GOP Sens. David Perdue of Georgia and Tom Cotton of Arkansas reintroduced a new version of the RAISE Act, which includes the chain migration and merit-based visa program.
Trump’s ask includes a 10- to 12-year path to citizenship for up to 1.8 million eligible illegal immigrants, ending visa sponsorships of extended family members, and granting admission to the U.S. based on demands from U.S. businesses.
