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Trump Wants More Merit-Based Immigration With New Proposal

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

Last month, President Trump tweeted, our country is full. Today, as he rolled out a sweeping immigration plan, the president adjusted that stance.

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

Now Trump says he welcomes immigrants but wants more of them to come in based on merit, people who bring a valuable skill, an advanced education or a plan to create jobs.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: People who will expand opportunity for striving low-income Americans, not to compete with those low-income Americans.

SHAPIRO: The proposal does not address the fate of so-called DREAMers, who Democrats say should be part of any immigration overhaul. But Trump still called on Democrats to support this plan.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

TRUMP: And if for some reason, possibly political, we can't get the Democrats to approve this merit-based high security plan, then we will get it approved immediately after the election when we take back the House, keep the Senate and, of course, hold the presidency.

(APPLAUSE) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.