Statue of Liberty caught in White House immigration row

London: The Statue of Liberty was the focus of a monumental exchange between a White House adviser and a reporter after Donald Trump backed an immigration policy favouring the better-educated, reports BBC.

"The Statue of Liberty says, 'Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free'," CNN's Jim Acosta told Stephen Miller.

"It doesn't say anything about speaking English," Mr Acosta added.

Mr Miller said the poem on the iconic American statue was "added later".

The immigration overhaul, backed by Mr Trump on Wednesday, would curb the number of permanent, legal migrants allowed in the US each year and prioritise those who can speak English or are highly skilled.

Mr Trump's senior policy adviser at the White House, Mr Miller, said at a press briefing that the policy was "compassionate".

The question-and-answer session turned into a fiery row as Mr Miller and Mr Acosta clashed on the issue.

The pair verbally sparred over the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of freedom and what it represents in relation to US immigration policy.

In response to Mr Acosta's point about the famous poem, Mr Miller countered by saying that it was "not actually part of the original Statue of Liberty".

Statue of Liberty caught in White House immigration row

London: The Statue of Liberty was the focus of a monumental exchange between a White House adviser and a reporter after Donald Trump backed an immigration policy favouring the better-educated, reports BBC. The Statue of Liberty says, Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, CNNs Jim Acosta told Stephen Miller. It doesnt say anything about speaking English, Mr Acosta added. Mr Miller said the poem on the iconic American statue was added later. The immigration overhaul, backed by Mr Trump on Wednesday, would curb the number of permanent, legal migrants allowed in the US each year and prioritise those who can speak English or are highly skilled. Mr Trumps senior policy adviser at the White House, Mr Miller, said at a press briefing that the policy was compassionate. The question-and-answer session turned into a fiery row as Mr Miller and Mr Acosta clashed on the issue. The pair verbally sparred over the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of freedom and what it represents in relation to US immigration policy. In response to Mr Acostas point about the famous poem, Mr Miller countered by saying that it was not actually part of the original Statue of Liberty.