iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — President Trump introduced new legislation Wednesday with Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and David Perdue, R-Ga., aimed at cutting legal immigration to the United States.
The bill — a revised version of an immigration-reform act introduced in February — would change the system for granting legal residency, or green cards, by giving priority to high-skilled immigrants who are English-speaking.
“This competitive application process will favor applicants who can speak English, financially support themselves and their families, and demonstrate skills that will contribute to our economy,” Trump said Wednesday at the White House alongside Cotton and Perdue.
Trump said the new legislation would help boost the pay of American workers and “help ensure that newcomers to our wonderful country will be assimilated, will succeed and will achieve the American dream.”
It’s unclear when the Senate may take up the legislation. The initial immigration reform bill in February was opposed by some Republicans and business groups.
Trump’s support for the bill follows his campaign pledge to reform the country’s immigration system.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, more than 1 million immigrants gained permanent residency in the United States in 2015.
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