America’s legal immigration system has failed the American people. It prioritizes random chance over merit, extended family connections over economic need, and foreign workers over our own graduates and job seekers—depressing wages, straining public resources, and undermining the principle that immigration should serve the American people.

Our system fails immigrants as well. New analysis of Census data from the Center for Immigration Studies finds that nearly half of non-citizen households rely on federal welfare programs, not because immigrants won't work, but because our system selects for low skills and low wages. Each new wave of low-wage immigration knocks the last wave further behind.

The Americans First Immigration Act addresses both failures directly. By overhauling our outdated legal system, it will increase wages for American workers, reduce the deficit, and give the immigrants we select better opportunities to succeed. It does this by tackling the two fundamental flaws in our current system: unsustainably high numbers and an indefensible selection process.

More than one million green cards are issued........

© Townhall