A Rational Approach to U.S. Immigration: Why the Diversity Visa Lottery Should Be Abolished
During his inaugural week as President, Donald Trump made a strong move on immigration by signing nine executive orders that laid out his plan for border security, mass deportations, and birthright citizenship. One aspect of immigration that was notably absent from his agenda, though, was the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, a program that has attracted controversy and criticism along with it throughout the years.
Started as part of the Immigration Act of 1990 by then-President George H.W. Bush, the Diversity Visa Lottery, or the “green card lottery,” aimed to diversify the ethnic background of U.S. immigrants. Each year, candidates from traditionally low-immigration nations to the United States receive a chance to compete for one of 55,000 visas. Over 22 million people vied for their opportunity to win in 2023, and only a percentage of them made it through by securing a visa.
Internationally well-liked as it has been, the program has also received a lot of criticism. Others feel that it doesn’t do the U.S.’s best good, namely because it isn’t merit-based in how it chooses who to let in and that fraud and crime are on the horizon.
Diversity Without Merit
The Diversity Visa Lottery is a lottery-based program, and hence, applicants are not chosen based on their ability, education, or talent to contribute to the economy. The randomness has raised some eyebrows on whether the program is in the best interest of the U.S. In a nation that prides itself on meritocracy and values the contribution of brilliant immigrants, the lottery appears out of place, choosing chance over ability.
The lottery tends to choose people who are not necessarily equipped with the skills and knowledge required to succeed in a competitive economy. Most of the winners are people who, although deserving of chances, might not possess the qualifications to make meaningful contributions to the U.S. labor market. This leads to a bigger question: Should immigration be based on random selection, or should it focus on those who can contribute to making the country’s economy, scientific progress, and security stronger?
Fraud and Criminal Activity
The Diversity Visa Lottery is not without abuse. The applicant has much to gain, so the fraudulent activity has reached epic proportions. Document forgery to misrepresentation, the process of selection for the program has been utilized by those who want to take advantage of the system.
In dishonest nations, for instance, in Africa and parts of Eastern Europe, the majority of applicants resort to bribing officials to obtain fake documents that appear authentic. Criminal syndicates have exploited the practice by providing services to “guarantee” lottery selection for a fee.
The type of fraud not only harms the integrity of the U.S. immigration process but also poses threats to national security. The U.S. government has long been concerned that the program could be used by terrorists to enter the country. Indeed, the terrorist attacks in the early 2000s and the 2017 New York truck and subway bombing involved individuals who had won green cards through the lottery. These events only serve to solidify the risk of allowing those who may have violent intentions into the country through the untested, random system.
Strain on Resources
The U.S. consular officials who process immigration petitions already have enough to do. The extra cost of verifying bogus documents and conducting full-fledged background checks on green card lottery winners diverts valuable resources away from higher-priority and worthy immigration cases, such as for spouses of American citizens and soldiers.
American taxpayers are footing the bill for these inefficiencies, as money and time are spent processing lottery winners who fail to meet the economic, security, or skill-based criteria which should guide immigration policy.
The Path Forward: A Merit-Based System
There are compelling needs for overhauling the U.S. immigration system to align it with the economic and security interests of the country. Merit-based entry would be targeted towards those with favorable skills, educational qualifications, or working experience that may prove valuable for the country’s progress. It would guarantee that immigration serves to advance American ingenuity, improve national security, and fill labor gaps.
Instead of allowing an outdated lottery system to control immigration policy, the U.S. should seek to admit immigrants who can contribute to the nation in certain ways, either through technology, science, or other major industries. Such a system would not only make immigration policy more effective but also more efficient and secure.
Conclusion
While the Diversity Visa Lottery was designed to make the immigrant pool more diverse, its randomness, susceptibility to fraud, and lack of merit-based selection detract from the U.S.’s ability to create a rational and effective immigration system. With the Trump presidency and Republican Congress, there might be a real opportunity to abolish the program and institute one more in the best interest of America. By prioritizing skilled immigrants and focusing on safety and economic matters, the United States can make a more viable, more vibrant future.