Trump presented an immigration plan to contain skilled workers

"If it is pbaded, our plan will turn the American immigration system into pride of our country and envy of the modern world."promised the president when presenting his initiative to the White House.

Trump said he appreciated the arrival of immigrants to the country, but insisted that a significant proportion of them had to come in by their merits and skills.

"The main change we are making is to increase the proportion of highly skilled immigrants from 12% to 57%, and we would like to see if we can even increase it further," he said. "It will make us competitive globally."

The new system will require candidates to know English and the basics of American history and society.

"They will have to learn English and pbad a civic exam before they are admitted," he said.

The president also denounced what he sees as abuses of the American asylum system.

"Our country has proudly provided protection for those fleeing government persecution throughout history, and unfortunately, legitimate asylum seekers are displaced by those who bring frivolous lawsuits," Trump said.

And he promised that anyone who has a "correct request" will be "promptly admitted", but whoever does not, will be "sent home".

"Our plan achieves two key objectives. stop illegal immigration and completely secure the border. And second, eSet up a new system of legal immigration which protects American wages, promotes American values ​​and attracts the best and brightest in the world, "he said.

But it is unlikely that the project will progress in Congress, whose lower house is controlled by Trump's Democratic opponents.

The Republican tycoon, who has made the fight against illegal immigration one of the flagship vessels of his administration, ensures that the United States is invaded by migrants and asylum seekers.

Opponents say they have lobbied to create more barriers at the Mexican border and

his frequent denunciations of migrants as dangerous criminals incite racial hatred.

The president has declared a national emergency to bypbad Congress and unlock billions of dollars of funds for his controversial wall project. He has also deployed troops on the border with Mexico.