Prez backs move to cut immigrants

President Trump on Wednesday backed legislation that would slash in half the number of legal immigrants who come to the US annually and favor those who speak English. The proposed law, which has languished in the Senate since it was introduced in February by GOP Sens. David Perdue (near left) of Georgia and Tom Cotton (far left) of Arkansas, would also create an immigration system based on merit and job skills instead of family connections.

Trump said the bill would save taxpayers money by limiting nonskilled immigrants, who he said were more likely to wind up on welfare.

“This competitive application process will favor applicants who can speak English, financially support themselves and their families and demonstrate skills that will contribute to our economy,” Trump said.

“The reforms ... will help ensure that newcomers to our wonderful country will be assimilated, will succeed and will achieve the American dream.

“They’re not going to come in and just immediately go on welfare.”

Trump adviser Stephen Miller told reporters there would be a groundswell of support among Americans.

CNN’s Jim Acosta took issue with the bill at a White House press briefing, telling Miller, “When it comes to immigration, the Statue of Liberty says, ‘give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to be free.’ It doesn’t say anything about speaking English,” Acosta said.

Miller responded, “Right now it is a requirement to be naturalized that you have to speak English, so the notion that speaking English wouldn’t be part of your immigration system would be very ahistorical.”