Trump once again defies predicted immigration flip-flopWashington Examiner, Feb 28, 2017, W. James Antle III
President Trump once again defied predictions that he was going to soften his position on immigration, this time during his first address to Congress on Tuesday night.
In the hours before the speech, it was reported that Trump told meeting attendees it was time for "compromise on both sides" on the issue. Some even speculated that something like the Gang of Eight, a bipartisan measure from 2013 that contained a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, might be on the table.
It didn't happen. "By finally enforcing our immigration laws, we will raise wages, help the unemployed, save billions of dollars and make our communities safer for everyone," Trump vowed.
Trump did say he was willing to work with Democrats on immigration reform, but he outlined a different approach than the plans endorsed by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
"Nations around the world, like Canada, Australia and many others, have a merit-based immigration system," the president said. "According to the National Academy of Sciences, our current immigration system costs America's taxpayers many billions of dollars a year."
A move away from family reunification to skills-based legal immigrant admissions is a policy favored by many immigration restrictionists.
More:
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trump-once-again-defies-predicted-immigration-flip-flop/article/2616107#!
