Our plan includes a sweeping modernisation of our dysfunctional legal immigration process. It is totally dysfunctional. These green card holders get lifetime authorisation to live and work here and a five-year path to American citizenship. This is the most prized citizenship anywhere in the world by far.
Currently, 66 per cent of legal immigrants come here on the basis of random chance. They're admitted solely because they have a relative in the United States. And it doesn't really matter who that relative is. Another 21 per cent of immigrants are issued either by random lottery or because they're fortunate enough to be selected for humanitarian relief. Random selection is contrary to American values and blocks out many qualified potential immigrants from around the world who have much to contribute.
Under these senseless rules of the current system, we're not able to give preference to a doctor, a researcher. We discriminate against genius. We discriminate against brilliance. We won't anymore once we get this passed. And we hope to get it passed as soon as possible.
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.
