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

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