In early August, President Donald Trump publicly announced his support for the RAISE Act, a key immigration reform bill that is being co-sponsored by two senators: Tom Cotton from Arkansas and Will Perdue from Georgia. Should the RAISE Act be passed into law, the bill would radically reform America’s immigration system. Here, our immigration law team highlights what you need to know about the RAISE Act.
The Three Most Important Things You Need to Know About the RAISE Act
- Total Immigration to the United States Would Be Cut Sharply
The RAISE Act seeks to drastically reduce the total amount of legal immigration into the United States. While President Trump has at times openly stated that he supports immigration, this bill would sharply cut the amount of people eligible to become green card holders. For reference, the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) reports that under the current U.S. immigration system, more than 1.3 million immigrants come to the United States each year. If the RAISE Act were to become federal law, immigration experts estimate that immigration would be cut by nearly 60 percent, with less than 500,000 immigrants being allowed in on an annual basis.
- The Bill Would Dramatically Alter Immigration Policy
Not only does the RAISE Act seek to reduce the total number of people who could immigrate to the United States, but the law also attempts to change the composition of who could come into the country. This is because the RAISE Act does not seek to cut all types of immigration in equal proportions. The proposal would work to move the United States to a so-called “points-based system.” In reality, the effect of this would be to slash family-based immigration, while leaving skills-based immigration somewhat intact. This would be a major policy shift and it would completely change the foundation of our country’s immigration model. For full details on the proposed points system contained within the bill, please refer to the charts provided by the American Immigration Council (AIC).
- The RAISE Act Has Somewhat Limited Congressional Support (So Far)
Restrictionist-supported immigration policies have slowly been gathering support in recent years, and the Trump Administration lending public support to the RAISE Act is no doubt a major boost for this proposed legislation and other similar immigration-reduction bills. Still, at the current time, the RAISE Act lacks sufficient support to get through Congress. While passage in its current form is unlikely, at least in the short-term or intermediate-term, it is important to monitor this bill and similar bills for any new developments.
We Proudly Support Immigrants in Southern California
At Goldstein Immigration Lawyers, our legal team always keeps a very close eye on all of the latest legal changes and policy proposals related to immigration law and provides immigration help to residents of the area. Our firm is located in the heart of Los Angeles and we represent immigrants and their family members throughout the region, including in Beverly Hills, Long Beach, Torrance, Downey, Monterey Park and Inglewood. Contact our skilled immigration lawyer in Los Angeles for help today.
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