Trump restricted access to foreign worker visas during his first administration and has critiqued the H-1B visas program, which allows U.S. companies to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations.
He stated that it has “only been in the last four years” that Democrats in control of the federal government have refused to enforce existing laws.
Schmitt made the comments on Fox News Sunday with host Shannon Bream, cutting against a push for more migrant workers from Elon Musk.
Schmitt went on to argue that the U.S. needs to “invest” more in Americans workers, as well as defend President Trump’s plans for deportations.
“The idea of deporting people who are here illegally is not a new concept. In fact, the policy in the law of the United States of America, since, you know, for 200 years, is if you come here illegally, you are detained. If you don’t have a valid reason, like asylum. And by the way, nine out of ten asylum claims are bogus. Then you are deported,” Schmitt said.
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“So I think the solution here President Trump has actually articulated in 2020 is to reform that system and, you know, get rid of the abuses, make it merit-based and make sure that we’re not undercutting wages and having, you know, Americans train their foreign replacements,” he added.