The US should cease accepting “substandard” immigrants who don’t assist the financial system
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Thursday that the U.S. should focus on welcoming immigrants who will help grow the economy as the White House rolls out its long-awaited “Gold Card” visa.
“We’re the only great country that just lets other people in without vetting them and deciding whether they’re actually helping America’s economy,” Lutnick said Thursday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”
“Let’s get the best,” he said. “Let’s help them grow America and build America. Why should we take in people who are underperforming? It just doesn’t make sense.”
Lutnick said the “average green card holder” in the U.S. earns “a third less than the average American.”
His comments come as President Donald Trump officially launched his gold card visa. The program, which has seen its price cut from $5 million to $1 million, offers a path to citizenship and has drawn widespread interest from wealthy foreigners.
Trump’s administration has made crackdowns on immigration a centerpiece of his return to the White House. Trump said in September he would impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, a popular way for tech companies to recruit skilled workers from abroad.
Lutnick said an immigrant’s willingness to pay the $1 million can “prove” they are worthy of an expedited application.
“We should bring in the best and brightest,” Lutnick said. “This is what Donald Trump is changing about our immigration system.”
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