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Trump official: Statue of Liberty poem should mean 'poor who can stand on own two feet' | Trump official: Statue of Liberty poem should mean 'poor who can stand on own two feet' |
(about 13 hours later) | |
Ken Cuccinelli, the acting director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has proposed a new interpretation of the famous welcome that appears on a placard at the Statue of Liberty. | Ken Cuccinelli, the acting director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has proposed a new interpretation of the famous welcome that appears on a placard at the Statue of Liberty. |
Trump faces pushback over rollbacks to the Endangered Species Act – live | Trump faces pushback over rollbacks to the Endangered Species Act – live |
The famous lines, taken from The New Colossus by the 19th-century New York poet Emma Lazarus, read: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” | The famous lines, taken from The New Colossus by the 19th-century New York poet Emma Lazarus, read: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” |
In media interviews on Tuesday, Cuccinelli said the poem was about European immigrants escaping class-based prejudice and that America was looking to receive migrants “who can stand on their own two feet”. | |
He suggested a change to the words which would say: “Give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet and who will not become a public charge.” | |
On NPR’s Morning Edition, Cuccinelli defended the Trump administration decision to make it harder for migrants to be awarded permanent residence, or a “green card”, if they have ever accepted benefit programs such as food stamps, housing assistance or Medicaid. | On NPR’s Morning Edition, Cuccinelli defended the Trump administration decision to make it harder for migrants to be awarded permanent residence, or a “green card”, if they have ever accepted benefit programs such as food stamps, housing assistance or Medicaid. |
Starting in October, decisions on green card applicants will be based on a wealth test, meant to establish if they have the means to support themselves. Poor migrants will be denied if they are deemed likely to use government programs. | Starting in October, decisions on green card applicants will be based on a wealth test, meant to establish if they have the means to support themselves. Poor migrants will be denied if they are deemed likely to use government programs. |
The policy change triggered a swift backlash, some critics saying migrants may now drop out of government assistance programmes even if they are not seeking permanent residence. | The policy change triggered a swift backlash, some critics saying migrants may now drop out of government assistance programmes even if they are not seeking permanent residence. |
Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan tweeted: “I am so tired of waking up to cruel and hateful policies like this one. Too many have been hurt. We must and will fight – and we will win.” | Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan tweeted: “I am so tired of waking up to cruel and hateful policies like this one. Too many have been hurt. We must and will fight – and we will win.” |
CBS White House correspondent Weijia Jiang tweeted: “My dad came to the US with $40. My mom and I followed with $0. We were tired. We were poor. But this beautiful country helped us become Americans.” | CBS White House correspondent Weijia Jiang tweeted: “My dad came to the US with $40. My mom and I followed with $0. We were tired. We were poor. But this beautiful country helped us become Americans.” |
Cuccinelli’s remarks were perhaps made in jest but nonetheless point to the administration’s stated intention to reduce legal immigration. | Cuccinelli’s remarks were perhaps made in jest but nonetheless point to the administration’s stated intention to reduce legal immigration. |
Cuccinelli said it “doesn’t seem like too much to ask” for migrants to be self-sufficient. | Cuccinelli said it “doesn’t seem like too much to ask” for migrants to be self-sufficient. |
“It does not change what makes America exceptional,” he said. “We invite people to come here and join us as a privilege.” | “It does not change what makes America exceptional,” he said. “We invite people to come here and join us as a privilege.” |
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