Donald Trump Activates Immigration Overhaul

Donald Trump Activates Immigration Overhaul

It’s the first of two days of symbolic action to keep true to his signature campaign promise.

By David Catanese | Senior Politics Writer Jan. 25, 2017, at 4:21 p.m.

Donald Trump Activates Immigration Overhaul

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President Donald Trump signed an executive order that set funding in motion for the construction of a wall on the Mexican border on Wednesday. Shawn Thew/Getty Images

It was the marquee promise of his campaign, the clarion call that kickstarted his disruptive candidacy and provided it with an enduring rationale that millions of Americans latched onto.

And on Wednesday, the fifth day of his presidency, Donald Trump took the initial steps to make good on his hallowed pledge, signing an executive order that set funding in motion for the construction of a "large physical barrier" on the Mexican border, more commonly known as "the wall."

"Beginning today the United States of America gets back control of its borders," President Trump said in an address at the Department of Homeland Security.

A 14-foot high steel wall marked the U.S.-Mexican border in Naco, Arizona | In 2006, U.S. News staff photographer Jim Lo Scalzo drove along the U.S.-Mexico border, chronicling the would-be site of a 700-mile-long fence proposed in the Secure Fence Act, which was signed into law by George W. Bush. Much of the fence has been built but the border remains in the news. Ten years later, as the 2016 presidential election has renewed talk of a wall along the southern border, we take a look back at the imposing landscape before the fence. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)

The first order also ends the "catch-and-release" policy revived by former President Barack Obama's administration that permitted the discharge of undocumented workers taken into custody while they waited for a judicial hearing. It requests 5,000 additional officers to patrol the border.

A second executive order signed by the president aims to activate funding for deportations of those in the country illegally and seeks to strip federal grant money from "sanctuary cities," where people in the country illegally are protected by local governments. It asks for a tripling of immigration enforcement officers.

"As we've said repeatedly, we're going to get the bad ones out," the president said. "The day is over where they can stay in our country and wreak havoc. We're going to get them out and we're going to get them out fast."

During a week packed with a flurry of presidential action – from pumping the brakes on multilateral trade deals, halting U.S. taxpayer money for abortions abroad and instituting an executive branch hiring freeze – this was perhaps the most symbolically important move to Trump supporters, who were animated by his controversial, bold but unwavering call to bolster the country's security.

Taken together, it is the first of two days of sweeping action on immigration policy, which was the heart of Trump's White House candidacy.

"I'd never thought I'd live in fortress America," says Tom Ridge, a former homeland security secretary under President George W. Bush. "But there's enough frustration that something as dramatic as this can be embraced. It'll have a psychological impact. It'll have a physical impact. I prefer a president who'll tear down a wall rather than build one, but he's determined to build it."

The goal is to stem the flow of drugs, weapons, bad actors and terrorists from easily pouring over the southern border and committing crimes in the U.S. On Thursday, Trump is expected to go even further with an eye overseas, restricting travel from a host of Muslim-majority countries, including Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. White House press secretary Sean Spicer only obliquely referenced the targets on Wednesday, characterizing them as people who come into the country raising "a higher degree of concern."

Even Trump's own selection to lead the Department of Homeland Security, John Kelly, has said he does not believe it is appropriate to use religion as the sole factor in counterterrorism tactics. But the Trump administration is likely to use careful language that steers clear of mentioning Muslims and instead pinpoints countries that have showed hostility to the U.S. or clear connections to international terrorism.

Taking even limited action on his campaign pledge to institute a temporary ban on Muslims will provoke the most hardened and emotional opposition, even potentially from members of his own party.

The wall itself is also a polarizing symbol for many Democrats and immigration activists, but it remains unclear exactly how it will be accomplished, given the amount of funding required.

It's been a decade since President Bush signed a measure authorizing the construction of a fence along 700 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, but congressional amendments gave the Department of Homeland Security wide discretion over how to proceed. And for the most part, the project stalled during the Obama years.

The success of Trump's wall will be dependent on clear legislative language and congressional funding that could amount to anywhere between $15 billion and $25 billion.

One section of Trump's order directs agency department heads to identify all sources of funding provided to Mexico over the past five years, a veiled reference at the economic leverage the administration wields over the country.

Trump has said repeatedly Mexico will eventually reimburse the U.S. for the cost, but many critics are dubious that will occur. Additionally, any wall will face logistical hurdles, given the rugged, uneven terrain on the border. While Trump characterized the wall's construction as "immediate," Kelly said during his confirmation hearing that it may not be built anytime soon.

"I don't think he can do much more than that without seeking funds from Congress," says Steve Yale-Loehr, a professor of Immigration Practice at Cornell Law School. "If it's a question of more secure fencing, making it harder to get in, I think that is likely to happen.

But are we going to see a 20-foot concrete wall along the southern border? I doubt it."

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Trump: Wall Construction to Begin ‘In Months'

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While Trump's proposed ban of foreigners is likely to be the most encompassing in history, presidents often invoke existing immigration statute to deny a particular group entry to the U.S.

In 2016, Obama suspended entry into the U.S. of noncitizens who have engaged in, directly or indirectly, "actions that threaten the peace, security, or stability of Libya."

Before that, he suspended the entry of any noncitizens who supplied materials to North Korea's nuclear or missile programs. In 2007, President Bush suspended Lebanese or Syrian officials who contributed to the breakdown of rule in law in Lebanon.

Barring an entire country of citizens from entering the U.S. would be an unprecedented use of that provision, according to Yale-Loehr.

"This would be the largest scale," he says.

The Trump administration is still wrestling with how it plans to deal with the so-called "Dreamers," those in a program that allows people who entered the country illegally as a minor to remain here with a work permit.

But in a signal that Trump may be softening his position, Spicer told reporters in the White House briefing room that "his priority is first and foremost people who are in this country who seek to do us harm."

While Democrats largely remain opposed to all of Trump's measures, they initially appeared to focus on his foreign restrictions, an indication that enhanced border security – if not the wall, specifically – is a popular position with many of their constituents.

In her weekly press briefing, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said any potential constraints on accepting foreign refugees would fall outside the American value system, but she also acknowledged public support for a part of Trump's approach.

"Some of what he says will have its popular appeal because the immigration was an issue that fueled the flame in his campaign," she said.

Trump Administration Toughens Importing Foreigners To Take Skilled Jobs In America Making It Cost Prohibitive

Visa Bill Introduced In US, To Force Minimum Pay More Than Doubled


12 hours ago

Washington: A legislation has been introduced in the US House of Representatives which among other things calls for more than doubling the minimum salary of H-1B visa holders to $130,000, making it difficult for firms to use the programme to replace American employees with foreign workers, including from India.

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The High-Skilled Integrity and Fairness Act of 2017 introduced by California Congressman Zoe Lofgren prioritises market based allocation of visas to those companies willing to pay 200 per cent of a wage calculated by survey, eliminates the category of lowest pay, and raises the salary level at which H-1B dependent employer are exempt from non-displacement and recruitment attestation requirements to greater than $130,000.

This is more than double of the current H-1B minimum wage of $60,000 which was established in 1989 and since then has remained unchanged.

"My legislation refocuses the H-1B programme to its original intent - to seek out and find the best and brightest from around the world, and to supplement the US workforce with talented, highly-paid, and highly-skilled workers who help create jobs here in America, not replace them," said Lofgren.

"It offers a market-based solution that gives priority to those companies willing to pay the most. This ensures American employers have access to the talent they need, while removing incentives for companies to undercut American wages and outsource jobs," he said.

Lofgren said it removes the 'per country' cap for employment based immigrant visas so that all workers are treated more fairly and to move to a system where employers hire the most skilled workers without regard to national origin.

It raises the salary level at which H-1B dependent employer are exempt from attestation requirements to a new required wage level of 35 percentile points above the median national annual wage for Computer and Mathematical Occupations published by the Department of Labour Occupational Employment Statistics (roughly $132,000), which would be adjusted in the future without the need for new legislation, and eliminates the Master's Degree exemption for dependent employers.

The legislation sets aside 20 per cent of the annually allocated H-1B visas for small and start-up employers (50 or fewer employers) to ensure small businesses have an opportunity to compete for high-skilled workers, while still protecting against outsourcing.

It among other things removes visa hurdles for students and other temporary visa holders by building a bridge from F-1 student status to Lawful Permanent Residence and removes paperwork burdens by streamlining H-1B filing requirements and reducing administrative costs.

The legislation tightens employee protection by stipulating that employers may not reduce beneficiary wages, regardless of whether the deduction is in accordance with a voluntary authorisation by the employee.

It makes exceptions for taxes, garnishments, and deductions that are reasonable and customary in the occupation.

In related development, Senator Sherrod Brown has announced to introduce H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act in the Senate which he said would close loopholes in the H-1B and L-1 visa programs and provide increased protections for both American workers and visa holders.

"We need to crack down on the fraud and abuse that allows corporations to avoid paying Americans fair wages and exploit foreign workers," said Brown.

"During his campaign, President Trump promised to increase oversight of our H-1B and L-1 visa programs and reform starts with this bipartisan legislation to ensure that American businesses are giving American workers a fair shot at good-paying jobs," he said.

The bill would require that employers first offer a vacant position to an equally or better qualified American worker before seeking an H-1B or L-1 visa holder.

It would also establish wage requirements for L-1 workers and improve H-1B wage requirements to encourage companies to hire qualified American workers and prevent them from using foreign workers as a source of cheap labour.

Under the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform, the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would have additional oversight authority to investigate fraud and abuse as well as to increase penalties for companies that violate the bill's requirements.

The bill also requires DOL and DHS to share information so that visa petitions are effectively scrutinised.



http://www.msn.com/en-in/news/newsindia/h-1b-visa-bill-introduced-in-us-minimum-pay-more-than-doubled/ar-AAmrdMz?ocid=sf

Trump Moves To Deport Foreigners On Welfare

- ABC News

The draft order calls for the identification and removal "as expeditiously as possible" of any foreigner who takes certain kinds of public welfare benefits. Such immigrants have been barred from the U.S. for the better part of a century and they can already be deported.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireS...tests-45138177

Leaked Executive Order Reveals Trump Crackdown On Immigrant Welfare


by Tyler Durden
Jan 31, 2017 2:07 PM

Seemingly following the proposals of Bill Clinton (and Ron Paul), The Washington Post reports that a leaked document shows the Trump administration is planning to crackdown on current, and would-be, immigrants who are likely to require public assistance.

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After Bill Clinton received a standing ovation for suggesting crackdown on immigrant welfare...

"We are a nation of immigrants.. but we are a nation of laws"

"Our nation is rightly disturbed by the large numbers of illegal aliens entering our country...

Illegal immigrants take jobs from citizens or legal immigrants, they impose burdens on our taxpayers...

That is why we are doubling the number of border guards, deporting more illegal immigrants than ever before, cracking down on illegal hiring, barring benefits to illegal aliens, and we will do more to speed the deportation of illegal immigrants arrest for crimes...

It is wrong and ultimately self-defeating for a nation of immigrants to permit the kind of abuse of our immigration laws that has occurred in the last few years.. and we must do more to stop it."

And following Ron Paul's advice this week that the solution to really addressing the problem of illegal immigration, drug smuggling, and the threat of cross-border terrorism is clear:

Remove the welfare magnet that attracts so many to cross the border illegally, stop the 25 year US war in the Middle East, and end the drug war that incentivizes smugglers to cross the border.

The various taxpayer-funded programs that benefit illegal immigrants in the United States, such as direct financial transfers, medical benefits, food assistance, and education, cost an estimated $100 billion dollars per year. That is a significant burden on citizens and legal residents. The promise of free money, free food, free education, and free medical care if you cross the border illegally is a powerful incentive for people to do so. It especially makes no sense for the United States government to provide these services to those who are not in the US legally.

The Washington Post reports that The Trump administration is considering a plan to weed out would-be immigrants who are likely to require public assistance, as well as to deport — when possible — immigrants already living in the United States who depend on taxpayer help, according to a draft executive order obtained by The Washington Post.

A second draft order under consideration calls for a substantial shake up in the system through which the United States administers immigrant and nonimmigrant visas overall, with the aim of tightly controlling who enters the country, and who can enter the workforce, and to reduce the social services burden on U.S. taxpayers.

The drafts are circulating among administration officials, and it is unclear whether President Trump has decided to move forward with them or when he might sign them if he does decide to put them in place.

While Trump’s immigration ban last week focused on national security and preventing terrorism, the new draft orders would be focused on Trump’s campaign promises to protect American workers and to create jobs, immediately restricting the flow of immigrants and temporary laborers into the U.S. workforce.

The administration has blamed immigrants who end up receiving U.S. social services for eating up federal resources, and it has said immigrant workers contribute to unemployment among Americans who were born in the United States.

“Our country’s immigration laws are designed to protect American taxpayers and promote immigrant self sufficiency. Yet households headed by aliens are much more likely than those headed by citizens to use Federal means-tested public benefits,” reads one draft order obtained by The Post, titled “Executive Order on Protecting Taxpayer Resources by Ensuring Our Immigration Laws Promote Accountability and Responsibility.” The draft order provides no evidence to support the claim that immigrant households are more likely to use welfare benefits, and there is no consensus among experts about immigration’s impact on such benefits or American jobs.

WaPo goes on to note that the administration would be seeking to “deny admission to any alien who is likely to become a public charge” and develop standards for “determining” whether an immigrant can be deported after five years if that person receives a certain amount of public assistance, including Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Medicaid.

The second order, titled “Executive Order on Protecting American Jobs and Workers by Strengthening the Integrity of Foreign Worker Visa Programs” calls for “eliminating” the “jobs magnet” that is driving illegal immigration to the United States, according to a copy obtained by The Post.

The order would rescind any work visa provisions for foreign nationals found not to be in “the national interest” or in violation of U.S. immigration laws.

Economists are divided on the extent to which illegal immigration impacts wages, but generally find that immigration is good for the economy, including the immigration of low-skilled workers.

“The unlawful employment of aliens has had a devastating impact on the wages and jobs of American workers, especially low-skilled, teenage, and African American and Hispanic workers," the draft order says.

But the CATO Institute claims "when you compare poor immigrants to poor natives, poor immigrants are less likely to use welfare, and when they do, the dollar value of the benefits they use is lower," and The Migration Policy Institute claims that "refugee men are employed at a higher rate than their U.S.-born peers."

Bear in ind this is WaPo unsubstantiated reports and The White House would not confirm or deny the authenticity of the orders, and White House officials did not respond to requests for comment about the drafts on Monday and Tuesday.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-0...igrant-welfare

Immigration, World Poverty and Gumballs - NumbersUSA.com

Uploaded on Sep 10, 2010

Immigration - Global humanitarian reasons for current U.S. immigration are tested in this updated version of immigration author and journalist Roy Beck's colorful presentation of data from the World Bank and U.S. Census Bureau. The 1996 version of this immigration gumballs presentation has been one of the most viewed immigration policy presentations on the internet.

Presented by immigration author/journalist Roy Beck

Learn More http://www.NumbersUSA.org

NumbersUSA Education & Research Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that favors an environmentally sustainable and economically just America and seeks to educate the public about the effects of high levels of immigration on U.S. overpopulation, the environment, jobs, and wages.

We use government data to conduct research on the impacts of U.S. population growth, consumption, sprawl, and current levels of immigration and educate the public, opinion leaders and policy makers on the results of those and other studies.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPjzfGChGlE