President Trump called for a new, merit-based immigration system limited to people who can support themselves, saying it would raise U.S. wages and boost the economy. The National Farmers Union said Trump’s outline “neglects the unique and important work that immigrant laborers provide for our nation’s food system and rural economies.”
Half or more of farm workers are estimated to be undocumented. Farm groups say the guest worker programs needs to be streamlined and that undocumented workers should be given some type of legal status to assure farmers and ranchers have a reliable labor pool.
In his first speech to Congress, the president said stringent enforcement of immigration laws, coupled with his plans to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, would curb drugs and crime.
“Protecting our workers also means reforming our system of legal immigration,” said Trump. “The current, outmoded system depresses wages for our poorest workers and puts pressure on taxpayers … Switching away from this current system of lower-skilled immigration, and instead adopting a merit-based system, will have many benefits: It will save countless dollars, raise workers’ wages and help struggling families – including immigrant families – enter the middle class.”
During his first week in office, Trump signed an executive order to build the wall along the southern border and “to repatriate illegal aliens swiftly, consistently and humanely.” Priority for deportation was given to criminal aliens, aliens accused of a crime and those believed to pose a safety risk, descriptions that could snare millions of people. At that time, the largest U.S. farm group said lawmakers might be more willing to discuss immigration reform if border security was strengthened.
As a candidate, Trump called for ouster of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants.
But at a luncheon with TV news anchors on Tuesday, the president said that “he is open to an immigration reform bill that could provide a pathway to legal status – but not citizenship – for potentially millions of people who are in the United States illegally but have not committed serious crimes,” reported the Washington Post. “The time is right for an immigration bill as long as there is compromise on both sides,” said Trump.
The White House would not confirm Trump’s remarks at a private luncheon. A spokeswoman said Trump is open to discussions on how to achieve reform but his primary focus at present “is border control and security at the border.”