The U.S. has more foreign-born residents than any other country, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.
But today, less than 1% of those looking to reside permanently in the U.S. can do so legally, according to research by the Cato Institute.
"Most other developed nations in the world have a much higher percentage of their immigration system based on economics," according to Theresa Cardinal Brown, a senior advisor on immigration and border policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center.
The U.S. legal immigration system is in dire need of reform to make it work for the U.S. economy, experts say.
Watch the video above to see why the U.S. is having so much trouble solving the immigration crisis.
Persons:
Theresa Cardinal Brown, Brown, Simon Hankinson
Organizations:
U.S, Foreign Relations, Cato Institute, Center, Department of Homeland Security, Heritage Foundation
Locations:
U.S