After New York subway bombing, Trump admin re-ups push toward merit-based immigration

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 15: U.S. President Donald Trump waves after he spoke to members of the White House Press Corps prior to his Marine One departure from the South Lawn of the White House December 15, 2017 in Washington, DC. President Trump is heading to the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, to attend a graduation ceremony and visit the Marine Helicopter Squadron One. Then, he will spend his weekend at Camp David. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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

Tweets by JessicaV_CIS

Megan Essaheb, director of immigration advocacy at Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC; she tweets

Tweets by meganessaheb