Could this be the beginning of “Merit Based Immigration Vetting" for visa and immigrant applicants into the United States?

The Big Idea:
President Trump has praised the merit immigration system as a model for countries around the world because it focuses more on immigrants who can contribute to the economy rather than those with little more than family ties.
ICMS, Inc Reports
By Tom Okure, Ph.D
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During the US presidential elections and after he took office as US President, Mr. Trump has been advocating for strong borders and "extreme vetting" of potential immigrants coming into the United States. During his speech before the US Congress on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 President Trump proposed what he termed a “merit-based” immigration system, that is, an immigration policy which emphasizes an immigrant’s skills and employability over family ties. 

Reuters

Trump has praised the merit system as a model for countries around the world because it focuses more on immigrants who can contribute to the economy than those with little more than family ties. He cited Australia and Canada as countries that utilize a merit immigration policy. 

In Canada an estimated 63 percent of persons who are awarded legal permanent status, the initial step to applying for citizenship are admitted for their economic skills. Only about 24 percent of individuals admitted into Canada are admitted on the basis of family members or relations living in Canada. 

This is in sharp contrast with that of the United States where about 63 percent of green cards are awarded to immigrants with family connections, and approximately only 13 percent of green card holders are awarded residency based on economic reasons. A merit based immigration policy is not inherently bad. Experts say such a policy is necessary to boost the number of skilled workers admitted as residents into the United States. Complains have been levied by United States high tech companies in Silicon Valley regarding the small number of visas made available for high skilled workers they require annually. According to data from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services agency, between September 30, 2015 through October 2016; about 30, 678,988 people became permanent United States green card holders (residents) after using family based visas. 

See what happened to a Nigerian software engineer, Mr.Celestine Omin, who claims very recently he was handed a written test by a US border officer at New York's JFK airport to prove his technical credentials prior to being allowed into the United States. It is not clear why the Nigeria citizen was singled out to examine his credentials. Nigeria is not among the seven countries identified by the Trump administration for a temporary immigration pause. However, Nigeria in common with some African countries has been combatting the threat of terrorism for some years now, more specifically the radical militant Islamist group called Boko Haram.
Read More:
Nigerian engineer handed written test at New York airport
Canada's 'merit-based' immigration system wins Trump's praise
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All rights reserved by Inter-Continental Mgt. Systems, Inc (ICMS, Inc). The information included in this publication may not be used, reproduced, transmitted, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written permission of ICMS, Inc. The author Dr. Tom Okure is President of ICMS, Inc, a multifaceted business and management consulting firm with its head office in Albany, New York. Dr. Okure is a writer, author, business/management consultant, public policy commentator and change advocate.