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BFF-04
US-POLITICS-IMMIGRATION
Trump proposes US citizenship plan for 1.8 mn undocumented immigrants
WASHINGTON, Jan 26, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – US President Donald Trump’s
administration on Thursday unveiled a sweeping new immigration plan to
Congress that offers 1.8 million young unauthorized immigrants known as
“Dreamers” a path to citizenship over 10-12 years.
In a comprehensive reform that will be formally presented next week, Trump
has also asked Congress to eliminate the popular “green card lottery” program
and severely restrict family immigration, steps analysts say could cut in
half the more than one million foreign-born people moving to the country
annually.
And in the name of halting illegal immigration, he has also demanded
Congress budget $25 billion for a “trust fund” for constructing a wall on the
US-Mexico border — a major plank of Trump’s White House campaign.
“The Department of Homeland Security must have the tools to deter illegal
immigrants; the ability to remove individuals who illegally enter the United
States, and the vital authorities necessary to protect national security,” a
senior White House official told journalists.
The White House’s offer of a path to citizenship for the Dreamers was much
wider than expected. Earlier it had suggested it was only open to granting
citizenship to the 690,000 young immigrants registered under the Deferred
Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program.
But in exchange, Trump was asking Congress to make future legal immigration
more difficult — and to shore up the Homeland Security Department’s toolbox
and funding to crack down on the overall population of unauthorized
immigrants, estimated at some 11 million, including Dreamers.
That could make the plan difficult to get past Democrats, no matter how
strong they want the Dreamers reform.
“There is no public policy justification for cutting legal immigration in
half. None,” said Democratic Senator Brian Schatz on Twitter.
– Sharp turn in immigration policy –
The plan represents a sharp shift in US immigration policies. Trump
promised during his 2016 presidential campaign a tough crackdown on illegal
immigration, but has extended this to narrowing the doors for legal
immigrants and refugees.
The end of the lottery system — which was introduced in 1990 to diversify
the origins of new immigrants — was expected and has support from some
Democrats. Trump has argued the program has allowed people into the country
who have supported Islamic extremists.
“This program is riddled with fraud and abuse and does not serve the
national interest,” the White House said in a summary Thursday.
Trump however at least momentarily undermined his push against the lottery
when, in immigration bill negotiations with lawmakers in early January, he
complained about immigrants from what he reportedly dubbed “shithole” nations
like Haiti, El Salvador and countries in Africa, sparking widespread outrage.
Trump has also argued for ending “chain” migration, the practice of
allowing the extended family members of people who already have US
citizenship to immigrate.
Thursday’s proposal said that to “protect the nuclear family,” family
immigration would be only permitted for spouses and minor children.
– Battle in Congress likely –
The White House plan immediately provoked the ire of Democrats, who made
clear they would likely fight to water down the changes in negotiations in
coming weeks.
Pro-immigration groups said it would reduce overall immigration by half,
and was aimed at bringing more Caucasians into the country.
“$25 billion as ransom for Dreamers with cuts to legal immigration and
increases to deportations doesn’t pass the laugh test,” said Democratic
Representative Luis Gutierrez.
“The White House released a hateful, xenophobic immigration proposal that
would slash legal immigration to levels not seen since the racial quotas of
the 1920s,” said Lorella Praeli, director of immigration policy at the
American Civil Liberties Union.
But Republican leaders in Congress voiced solid support: Senate majority
leader Mitch McConnell said the White House proposal was a “framework” for
crafting a final immigration deal.
Republican Senator Tom Cotton, a hardline conservative, called Trump’s
framework “generous and humane, while also being responsible.”
However, some conservatives were angered by the sweeping offer to
Dreamers, which they say constitutes an amnesty that rewards law-breakers and
sets a bad precedent for other undocumented immigrants.
“Any proposal that expands the amnesty-eligible population risks opening
Pandora’s box,” said Michael Needham, chief executive of the right-wing lobby
Heritage Action.
“That should be a non-starter,” he said.
BSS/AFP/RY/08:25 hrs