US President Donald Trump backed legislation set to slash legal immigration on Wednesday by unveiling a "merit-based" system unfavorable for low-skill immigrants.
Introducing what he called the most significant overhaul of immigration in half a century, Trump said the current system "has not been fair" to US workers as it allows entries of low-skill immigrants hired at a lower salary.
Struggling American families "deserve an immigration system that puts their needs first and that puts America first," Trump said in a speech at the White House, joined by the bill's sponsors, Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia.
The Cotton-Perdue bill, or the Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment (RAISE) Act, was first introduced in February.
The early version of the bill was designed to cut legal immigrants onto the United States by 50 percent over the next 10 years.
Introducing what he called the most significant overhaul of immigration in half a century, Trump said the current system "has not been fair" to US workers as it allows entries of low-skill immigrants hired at a lower salary.
Struggling American families "deserve an immigration system that puts their needs first and that puts America first," Trump said in a speech at the White House, joined by the bill's sponsors, Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia.
The Cotton-Perdue bill, or the Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment (RAISE) Act, was first introduced in February.
The early version of the bill was designed to cut legal immigrants onto the United States by 50 percent over the next 10 years.