Legislation introduced on Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Tom Rice (R-SC) would reduce the number of family-based visas issued to immigrants to promote more admissions based on skills and education.
The Competitive America Act, H.R. 5398, would cut the number of family-based visas in half and increase employment-based visas by 80 percent to help foster America’s global competitiveness.
“Our current immigration system is uncompetitive and is in desperate need of reform,” Rice said. “Unlike most industrialized countries in the world, the United States awards the majority of admissions based on family relationships rather than skills and education. As a result, our country is far less competitive globally.”
Sixty-five percent of immigrants who are admitted to the United States each year are selected based on family relationships, and only 16 percent are selected based on education and skills, according to the Congressional Research Service.
“An immigration policy geared toward admitting more skilled immigrants rather than family-sponsored candidates will generate growth, economic opportunity and new jobs that America needs,” Rice said. “H.R. 5398 makes critical changes to our immigration system that will ultimately restore America’s competitiveness with international competitors.”
The bill would also establish a mandatory E-Verify system to deny certain tax credits to individuals who are not legally authorized to work in the United States and would redirect foreign aid from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador and apply it to border security.
Also under the bill, guest-worker visas for temporary non-agricultural workers would be expanded and streamlined, and no increases in visas would be granted until the Department of Homeland Security can verify that all immigrants are sufficiently screened.