Independent U.S. Sen. Angus King of Maine used the confirmation hearing of a Navy official to criticize a proposed immigration system based on points.
King was prompted by the testimony of Thomas Modly, nominated to be under secretary of the Navy, who told the story of how his father fled communist Hungary to come to the United States.
“I couldn’t help but note the irony of the fact we are now talking about cutting refugees in half, we are talking about point systems for people getting into the country,” King said. “It troubles me greatly that we are talking about cutting off the flow that leads us to have people such as yourself willing to serve our country as you have throughout your career and you are proposing to do before this committee.”
King said the creation of a point systems to grade would-be immigrants would turn away people who could contribute to society. He pointed out that his great-great grandfather was a runaway from London with no real skills but his ability to speak English.
