The Case for a Merit-Based Immigration System

Immigration is one of the most divisive topics in the national conversation in the US .

International students must navigate a complex and highly selective process to secure their place in the country.

Many undocumented immigrants attempt to manipulate the asylum system, adding strain to an already overwhelmed infrastructure.

The US has a moral obligation to assist asylum seekers and refugees.

More than 1 million foreign students enrolled at American universities, making up more than 5% of total student population.

At elite universities, the situation is much more extreme: International students make up almost 25% of the student population. Only a minority of international students come from Muslim countries.

Many international students are especially appreciative of American values since they have come to the US from countries where our freedoms are not as readily guaranteed.

A merit-based immigration system might favour individuals from countries with advanced education and training systems, potentially diminishing the diversity of immigrants coming to the US .

Dheeraj Pandey co-founded Nutanix , a software company specialising in cloud computing and data centre management.

20 of the 87 privately-held US companies valued at over $1 billion were founded by former international students.