A "hybrid" immigration policy is needed to handle both economic and family needs, according to Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.
"The reality of it is that the greatest sub-unit in our country is the family," Scott said Thursday on "CBS This Morning."
Scott said that merit-based immigration announced by President Donald Trump Wednesday is a good idea, but it should focus on jobs and families.
"There's a need for a hybrid system. If you look at where we have the largest holes in our economy, our STEM is a major part of it, science, technology, engineering, and math . . . we need more workers in that space there," Scott said.
"If you visit a farm in South Carolina, you'll find that they are desperate for workers. We need a hybrid system that matches the labor coming in from other countries," Scott added in the CBS interview.
"What we should look for are hybrids, where we meet our economic needs and at the same time, allow for family cohesion to be what it always has been, which is the anchor of the American society," the senator added.
"We can match folks coming in to the country with the jobs that we need," Scott said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the other South Carolina senator, had harsher words than Scott for the Wednesday proposal. The merit-based policy would be "devastating" for South Carolina, Graham said in The Post And Courier.
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