Maryland residents may be aware that President Donald Trump is a proponent of immigration reform. He ran on a platform of reducing both legal and illegal immigration to the country. Now, two senators are proposing a bill that would take a step toward accomplishing that goal. As part of their legislation, the number of refugees allowed into the country would be cut in half.
It would also eliminate the diversity draft lottery, which gives visas to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Sen. Tom Cotton believes that the roughly 1 million green cards awarded each year is too high. He suggests that the number be reduced to about 600,000 in a year and to 500,000 per year in a decade. He also stated that such a reduction would allow the economy to catch up and better serve American citizens.
However, the plan to cut immigration faces opposition from both Democrats and Republicans. It also faces opposition from those in the business community that would like to see high rates of immigration. Supporters of the legislation or the concept behind it include Attorney General Jeff Sessions and others who are close with the president. Economists are divided as to whether a cut in immigration would cause harm to or help American companies and workers.
Those who are seeking to become a legal permanent resident of the United States or otherwise want to live or work in the country legally may wish to talk to an attorney. Legal counsel may work with an individual to complete paperwork or take other steps to obtain a visa. An attorney may also be helpful to those who are facing deportation or who may have inadvertently allowed a valid visa to expire.