In light of the New York subway bomber, the White House has renewed its rhetoric about the need for a merit-based rather than family-based immigration system.
According to the Associated Press, the issue will be a major talking point in the president’s forthcoming State of the Union address.
The White House is pushing for a system that will give preference to employability, education and other “merit” markers in determining who gets into the country. Our current system, called “chain-migration” by the White House, also known as “family-migration,” privileges the family members of those who are already U.S. citizens.
What are the pros and cons of each system? Would a “merit-based” system really prevent the entry of people like the New York bomber into the U.S.?
Guests:
Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at Center for Immigration Studies; she tweets
Megan Essaheb, director of immigration advocacy at Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC; she tweets