Washington: US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he was open to a broad overhaul of the US immigration system, a shift from his hardline campaign rhetoric, as he made his first speech to Congress following a turbulent first month in office.
Trump, in a prime-time address to a country that remains divided an over his leadership, emphasized his desire to focus on problems at home by boosting the US economy with tax reform, a $1 trillion infrastructure effort and an overhaul of President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law, known as Obamacare.
Trump said a broad immigration reform plan was possible if both Republicans and Democrats in Congress were willing to compromise. He said US immigration should be based on a merit-based system, rather than relying on lower-skilled immigrants.Also Read: Buy American, Hire American: Trump in his First Speech at US Congress
Comprehensive immigration reform eluded his two predecessors because of deep divisions within Congress and among Americans over the issue. Trump said reform would raise wages and help struggling families enter the middle class.Also Read: Donald Trump Condemns Kansas Shooting, Calls it 'Racially-Motivated'
At the same time, he has expressed sympathy for children who entered the country when their parents crossed the border without proper authority, the "dreamers" who so far are protected by an ordered signed by Obama.'MASSIVE TAX RELIEF'
Trump voiced a need to persuade Americans to rally behind his agenda after a bitterly fought election, but he made his argument in terms of getting behind his effort for a "new chapter of American greatness."
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Trump said he wanted to provide "massive tax relief" to the middle class and cut corporate tax rates. But he did not offer specifics and failed to comment on the most pressing tax issue facing Congress, a proposed border adjustment tax to boost exports over imports.
Lawmakers have been looking to Trump for more leadership on an issue that has divided corporate America and Republicans in Congress.Also Read: US Stock Futures, Dollar Trim Gains as Donald Trump Fails to Stir Markets
Republicans remain divided on how to accomplish that goal and Democrats are ardently opposed to tampering with a system that provides health insurance for millions of low-income Americans.
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