President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday unveiled a sweeping new immigration plan to Congress that offers 1.8 million young unauthorized immigrants known as "Dreamers" a path to citizenship over 10-12 years.
Trump's comprehensive plan - which will be formally presented next week - includes eliminating the popular "green card lottery" programme and would severely restrict family immigration.
It would also require Congress to budget US$25 billion for a "trust fund" for constructing a wall on the US-Mexico border - a major plank of Trump's White House campaign.
"The Department of Homeland Security must have the tools to deter illegal immigrants; the ability to remove individuals who illegally enter the United States cheap nike air max 95 white , and the vital authorities necessary to protect national security," a senior White House official told journalists.
The White House's offer of a path to citizenship for the Dreamers was much wider than expected. Earlier it had suggested it was only open to granting citizenship to the 690,000 young immigrants registered under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, programme.
But in exchange cheap nike air max tn white , Trump was asking Congress to make future legal immigration more difficult - and to shore up the Homeland Security Department's toolbox and funding to crack down on the overall population of unauthorized immigrants, estimated at some 11 million including Dreamers.
SHARP TURN IN IMMIGRATION POLICY
The plan represents a sharp shift in US immigration policies. Trump promised during his 2016 presidential campaign a tough crackdown on illegal immigration, but has extended this to narrowing the doors for legal immigrations and refugees.
The end of the lottery system -- which was introduced in 1990 to diversify the origins of new immigrants - was expected and has support from some Democrats. Trump has argued the programme has allowed people into the country who have supported Islamic extremists.
"This programme is riddled with fraud and abuse and does not serve the national interest