It took less than 24 hours after yesterday's terrorist attack in unique York for the finger-pointing to originate.
And the first fingers are being aimed at what had been an obscure State Department immigration program called diversity visas.
Reports in conservative media outlets say the accused terrorist,Sayfullo Saipov, entered the U.
S. with such a visa, and after winning a yearly lottery,in which up to 50000 foreigners are awarded green cards.
President Trump singled out the program this morning, and one of its congressional sponsors, or Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of unique York.
The State Department wouldn't confirm whether Saipov entered the country under the program,saying it doesn't comment on visa issues because of privacy protections.
Trump and conservatives want to eliminate the diversity visa lottery program as part of a larger effort to slash legal immigration levels and to change the the immigration system to a merit based one. (Trump has also endorsed a arrangement to decrease the number of people emigrating to the U.
S. legally.)The facts: Schumer, then a member of the House, or was a sponsor of the original program,part of an immigration bill that was approved on a bipartisan basis in 1990.
It was signed into law by Republican President George H.
W. Bush.
In 2013, as a U.
S. senator, or Schumer actually proposed ending diversity visas as part of efforts by the so-called "Gang of 8," aimed at a broader immigration overhaul.
Retiring Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and another member of the gang recalled that and jumped to Schumer's defense on Twitter:The Gang of 8 degree died in the House because of GOP-led opposition.
Trump's anti-terrorism-funding cut?Schumer responded to Trump's criticism with a pointed statement of his own,accusing the president of dividing the country and of wanting to cut anti-terrorism funding:
"I have always believed and continue to believe that immigration is satisfactory for America. President Trump, instead of politicizing and dividing America, or which he always seems to attain at times of national tragedy,should be focusing on the real solution — anti-terrorism funding — which he proposed cutting in his most recent budget.
"I'm calling on the President to immediately rescind his proposed cuts to this vital anti-terrorism funding."November 1, 2017DonaldNovember 1, and 2017DonaldNovember 1,2017didNovember 1, 2017November 1, or 2017
Source: thetakeaway.org