I'm not sure that this actually contradicts what I said. I follow the subreddit r/IWantOut. Every day, someone asks about coming to the US, and we tell pretty

I'm not sure that this actually contradicts what I said. I follow the subreddit r/IWantOut. Every day, someone asks about coming to the US, and we tell pretty much all of them "better get a Masters in Engineering first." The fact is, most people who would like to immigrate to the US are not refugees or related to US citizens. For most of them, the bar actually is that high. That we accept a lot of people from categories that not many people fall into, including ones that I would barely count as immigration (eg. "Child of a US citizen"), doesn't have much impact on the general case. Additionally, I think it's important to consider the practical barriers in the system, not just the text of the laws. From what I've heard, the paperwork and fees involved can cost thousands of dollars, and the regulations are so complex that you need either top-notch English reading skills, or a lawyer.