For decades, U.S. immigration policy debates have centered on creating a merit‐based system limiting entry to high‐skilled immigrants. Yet the emphasis on merit‐based immigration ignores the fact that high‐skilled immigrants already enter the United States in merit‐based immigration assume high‐skilled immigrants benefit the U.S. economy because they are better able than low‐skilled immigrants to translate skills into economic success. Using Sub‐Saharan (Black) African immigrants' labor and housing market outcomes, I show that meritocracy only partially explains U.S. labor and housing outcomes, leaving a merit‐based system unlikely to address America's economic needs. The majority of immigrants to the U.S. are non‐White, and racial discrimination in the labor market results in occupational and wage disadvantages in the U.S. Due to the public charge rule, high skilled immigrants may be less likely to get their visas renewed or green card applications approved because of these labor market disadvantages. Without stable visa status, high‐skilled immigrants will be less likely to make long‐term economic investments in the United States—an important way of contributing to the U.S. economy. Together, research indicates that U.S. immigration reform will not work without first enacting policy addressing racial disparities in economic systems.

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基于优点的移民制度有什么优点吗？撒哈拉以南非洲移民劳动力和住房市场的成果告诉我们有关美国经济和移民制度的信息

几十年来，美国移民政策的辩论一直围绕着建立基于绩效的制度，限制高技能移民的入境。然而，对基于绩效的移民的强调却忽略了这样一个事实，即高技能移民已经在基于绩效的移民中进入美国，认为高技能移民使美国经济受益，因为他们比低技能移民更擅长将技能转化为经济成功。通过使用撒哈拉以南（黑色）非洲移民的劳动力和住房市场成果，我证明了精英管理只能部分解释美国的劳动力和住房成果，而基于绩效的体系不太可能满足美国的经济需求。大部分移民到美国的都是非白人，劳动力市场的种族歧视导致美国的职业和工资处于不利地位由于这些劳动力市场的不利条件。没有稳定的签证身份，高技能的移民将不太可能在美国进行长期经济投资，这是对美国经济做出贡献的重要方式。总之，研究表明，如果不首先制定解决经济体系中种族差异的政策，美国移民改革将无法进行。