Trump Wants to Reform Chain Migration to a Merit-Based System
The immigration issue is a multifaceted topic. There are programs in place for guest workers (H-1B), political refugees, asylum seekers, and more. Addressing one slice of the pie, President Donald Trump dedicated the majority of his weekly address to focus on two aspects in particular: chain migration and the U.S. visa lottery program. Depending on your political leanings, you were either enthralled or mortified.
In usual Trumpian fashion, he didn’t mince any words in regards to his feelings on the matter. After spending just 30 seconds of his three-minute address talking about the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), he moved on to immigration. His crystal-clear intent: reform “chain migration” and the U.S. visa lottery program in favor of a merit-based system. Trump used last week’s New York City subway pipe bomb explosion and Sayfullo Saipov’s car-ramming attack to hammer home his points. Watch his address below:
WEEKLY ADDRESS???????? pic.twitter.com/1sH20Hb33x
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 16, 2017
Trump: “Because these individuals are admitted solely on the basis on family ties – not skill or not merit – most of this immigration is lower-skilled, putting great strain of federal welfare. And because there is no real selection criteria, the current system is totally incompatible with national security.”
Chain migration shouldn’t be confused with the U.S. visa lottery system. Both programs are two sides of the same coin, but aren’t necessarily similar.
Chain migration is a term that actually has several meanings and no defined function. As a verb, it can refer to the tendency of immigrants to follow those of a similar ethnic and cultural heritage to communities established within America’s borders (think Chinatown or Little Italy). As a noun, most Americans recognize it as a pejorative description for a defined immigrant family reunification and serial migration program run by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
One key tenet of the “family reunification” component of chain migration deals with individuals being admitted to the U.S. solely based on family ties. Work based skills, language, and ability to support oneself are not considered. That’s what Trump is looking to reform.
For example, New York City subway pipe bomber Akayed Ullah entered the U.S. from Bangladesh in 2011 on a visa for children of siblings of American citizens, according to the Department of Homeland Security. (Source: “Trump Calls on Congress to End Chain Migration, Visa Lottery Program,” Newsmax, December 12, 2017.)
The USCIS has specific criteria in place in which U.S. citizens may petition for certain family members to receive either a Green Card, a fiancé(e) visa, or a K-3/K-4 visa based on relationship. Merit-based criteria is not taken into consideration. It appears that’s the avenue which granted citizenship to Akayed Ullah in 2011.
U.S. Visa Lottery Program
Unlike the term “chain migration,” the U.S. visa lottery is a specific program. The Diversity Visa Lottery Program itself is controlled under Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The program provides what are known as “diversity immigrants” to emigrate to the U.S. from countries with historically low immigration rates.