Administration

Sessions: ‘We should be like Canada’ in how we take in immigrants

Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Tuesday called for stricter immigration laws and increased vetting of individuals entering the U.S. amid a heated debate between Congress and the White House over immigration reform.

“What the American people want, have a right to, and what’s good for America is a lawful system of immigration. And when we admit people to our country, we should be like Canada,” Sessions said on Fox News’s “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”

“We should evaluate them and make sure they are going to be lawful, they are not threats to us, they have the education and skill level to prosper in America. That’s good for them and good for America,” Sessions added. 

{mosads}Sessions said President Trump is not against immigration, but the country should vet potential immigrants and accept those who will be successful in the U.S.

A group of six bipartisan senators is expected to release an immigration and border security bill on Wednesday, though the Trump administration has already expressed disapproval for the measure.

The bill is expected to include a solution for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, $2.7 billion for border security and changes to the diversity lottery program.

Sessions on Tuesday ripped the proposal, saying it does not have “any prospect of success.” Instead, he called for Congress to support a more aggressive immigration bill presented by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.). 

“We’re going to have some votes in Congress. People need to be held to account or you are going to fix this system, create a system that protects America,” Sessions said.

The group of six senators has indicated their bill has growing support, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he will only bring the legislation to the floor if Trump will sign it. 

The president cast a shadow over immigration negotiations when during a meeting with lawmakers last week he reportedly referred to Haiti, El Salvador and African nations as “shithole countries.” 

Trump has also blamed Democrats for a failure to reach an immigration deal.

Tags Bob Goodlatte Donald Trump Jeff Sessions Mitch McConnell

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