The RAISE Act "will reduce poverty, increase wages and save taxpayers billions and billions of dollars," Trump told reporters in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. "This legislation demonstrates our compassion for struggling American families who deserve an immigration system that puts their needs first, and that puts America first."

The current immigration system, said Trump:

has placed substantial pressure on American workers, taxpayers and community resources, and among those hit the hardest … are minority workers competing for jobs against brand new arrivals. It has not been fair to our people, to our citizens, to our workers … [this RAISE act] will give Americans a pay raise by reducing immigration… [and] it will restore the sacred bonds of trust between America and its citizens.