U.S. has to stop taking in 'below-average' immigrants who won't help economy, says Lutnick

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Thursday that the U.S. should focus on bringing in immigrants that help grow the economy as the White House rolls out its long-awaited “gold card” visa.

“We're the only great country that lets other people just come in without vetting them and deciding whether they're really going to help the economy of America,” Lutnick said Thursday on CNBC's “Squawk Box.”

“Let's bring in the top of the best,” he said. “Let's help them grow America and build America. Why should we take people who are below average? It just doesn't make any sense.”

Lutnick said the “average green-card holder” in the U.S. earns “one-third less than the average American.”

His comments come as President Donald Trump officially launched his gold card visa. The program, which had its price reduced from $5 million to $1 million, offers a path to citizenship and has garnered high interest from rich foreigners.

Trump's administration has made the crackdown on immigration a centerpiece of his return to the White House. Trump said in September he would slap a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, a popular avenue for technology companies to bring in skilled workers from abroad.

Lutnick said an immigrant's willingness to shell out the $1 million can “prove” they are worthy of having an expedited application.

“We should be bringing in the best and the brightest,” Lutnick said. “That's what Donald Trump is changing about our immigration system.”