Groups Pan President Trump’s New Immigration Proposal as Elitist
Suzanne Potter/Dan Heyman, Public News Service – CA
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Immigrants’ rights groups are speaking out
against President Donald Trump’s new immigration proposal – unveiled
yesterday – saying it betrays American values and ignores the thorniest
issues that have thus far held up a comprehensive immigration deal in
Congress.
If the new proposal becomes law, migrants would have to take a civics
test and demonstrate proficiency in English. They’d be judged on a point
system that favors those who are younger, better-educated or
highly-skilled, or who have a job offer waiting for them.
Karina Martinez, communications director with the group Mi Familia Vota Los Angeles, says that doesn’t sound much like a country founded to be welcoming to people of all economic backgrounds.
“While it’s OK to have skills-based immigration programs, our
immigration should not be limited to only a select few and elites,” says
Martinez. “Especially when you add a language test, it just goes
against our national values.”
The president defends his policy, saying it will protect jobs by keeping more low-wage workers out.
According to the American Immigration Council,
more than 25% of California residents are foreign-born, and 20% are
native-born with at least one immigrant parent. The state also is home
to 2.4 million undocumented immigrants, who are a big part of the labor
force and contribute to the economy through spending and taxes.
Martinez notes that the proposal makes no mention of a path to citizenship for the 200,000 DACA recipients living in California.
“They want to be able to use what they’ve learned and harness the skills
that they have,” says Martinez. “So, it’s a real tragedy when President
Trump is doing more to hurt people than to help people.”
Critics of the proposal also point out that it doesn’t address the fate
of the 450,000 holders of Temporary Protected Status, or the 11 million
undocumented people currently living in the United States.
