Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) has introduced the Immigration in the National Interest Act, which is the House companion bill to Sen. Tom Cotton’s (R-Ark.) RAISE Act. The RAISE Act would end chain migration and the visa lottery and transform the existing employment-based system to a merit-based one.
Rep. Smith’s bill, like the RAISE Act, would limit family immigration to only spouses and minor children, ending chain migration. This would reduce overall legal immigration by 50% over the next 10 years.
The bill would also move our immigration system to a points-based, merit system giving priority to “immigrants who have the skills and abilities needed to contribute to our economy”.
“The Heritage Foundation has determined that low-skilled immigrants cost the United States $150 billion each year. A legal immigrant without a high school degree typically receives $4 in government benefits for every $1 they pay in taxes.
In addition, the National Academy of Sciences estimates that a lower-skilled immigrant costs taxpayers $142,000 over the immigrant’s lifetime,” Rep. Smith during his press conference where he announced the introduction of the bill.
During his announcement he also referenced a recent poll by Pulse Opinion Research citing,
“Over 60% of voters want an annual limit of one-half million or less for legal permanent immigrants who receive work visas.
And 55% of voters support legislation that would allow immigrants to bring their spouse and minor children to the United States but would end chain migration or the automatic admission of extended family members.”
Read Rep. Smith’s full statement at Lamarsmith.house.gov.
