Who is Vivek Ramaswamy: 5 things to know about this 2024 presidential candidate
4. Ramaswamy has vowed to dismantle affirmative action and create a merit-based immigration system
In an op-ed published by The Wall Street Journal, Ramaswamy vowed to “eliminate affirmative action across the American economy.” He sees the abandonment of affirmative action as part of his broader goal to “revive merit in every sphere of American life.”
“Lyndon B. Johnson’s Executive Order 11246 mandates that federal contractors — which employ approximately 20% of the U.S. workforce — adopt race-based hiring preferences,” he explained. “Top companies now regularly disfavor qualified applicants who happen to be white or Asian-American, which spawns resentment and condescension toward black and Hispanic hires. I will rescind this executive order and direct the Justice Department to prosecute illegal race-based preferences.”
Ramaswamy also expressed a desire to “restore merit for who gets to come to America.” Noting that his parents “entered this country legally, worked hard and raised two kids who went on to create businesses that improved the lives of thousands of Americans,” he concluded that “we need more immigrants like them, instead of those who break the law when they enter our country.” He said that if elected, he would secure the border and abolish “lottery-based immigration in favor of merit-based admission.”
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
