President Trump encouraged Republicans and Democrats in his joint session speech Tuesday night to pursue “real and positive immigration reform” that prioritizes border security and works to implement a merit-based system for legal immigration to the United States.
“Protecting our workers also means reforming our system of legal immigration. The current outdated system depress wages for our poorest workers, and puts great pressure on our nation’s taxpayers,” Trump told lawmakers gathered inside the House chamber.
By abandoning the current system of lower-skilled immigration and “instead adopting a merit-based system, we will have so many more benefits,” Trump said. “It will save countless dollars, raise workers’ wages and help struggling families, including immigrant families, enter the middle class and they will do it quickly and be very, very happy indeed.”
The president also challenged members of Congress who oppose his administration’s efforts to crackdown on illegal immigration to ask themselves what they would say to American families who have been dealing with the negative effects of having millions of unauthorized immigrants living in the country.
“To anyone in Congress who does not believe that we should enforce our laws, I would ask you this one question: what would you say to the American family that loses its job… or loves ones because America refuses to protect our borders?” Trump said.
Democrat lawmakers later groaned when Trump mentioned the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office that his administration plans to add to the Department of Homeland Security.
Many expected the president to soften his stance on immigration during the speech Tuesday night, but instead he assured Americans that he will soon break ground on a “great, great wall” along the U.S.-Mexico border and end the “environment of lawless chaos” that developed under his predecessor’s tenure.
“As we speak tonight, we are removing gang members, drug dealers and criminals that threaten our communities and prey on innocent citizens,” Trump said. “By finally enforcing our immigration laws, we will raise wages, help the unemployed, save billions and billions of dollars and make our communities safer for everyone.
If such issues are addressed, Trump said “Republicans and Democrats can work together [on immigration reform] to achieve an outcome that has alluded our country for decades.”
