Rep. Andy Ogles, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, has introduced legislation aiming to overhaul the U.S. legal immigration system by ending chain migration and eliminating the diversity visa lottery. The bill would significantly revise the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, shifting the focus from family-based immigration to prioritizing immigrants whose skills and backgrounds serve the “national interest” of the United States.
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The draft text of Ogles’ bill states that all immigration must align with the economic, cultural, and security interests as determined by Congress. It specifically targets the current family reunification system, often referred to as chain migration, which allows new immigrants to sponsor relatives. The legislation also seeks to scrap the annual issuance of 55,000 diversity visas granted by lottery to applicants from countries with low U.S. immigration rates.
Under the proposed legislation, prospective immigrants would face expanded “good moral character” criteria. Ineligibility would potentially apply to applicants accused of gang involvement, with prior arrests for domestic violence or driving under the influence—even absent convictions. Additional disqualifying factors include misuse of public benefits, immigration violations such as visa overstays, and tax delinquency. The bill calls for enhanced vetting measures, including social media reviews and in-person interviews.
Ogles’ proposal represents a move by some House Republicans skeptical of both illegal and legal immigration policies. The bill seeks to repeal major portions of the Hart-Celler Act, which in 1965 ended national-origin quotas largely favoring Northern and Western European immigrants. That legislation established family reunification, refugee admission, and skill-based immigration categories.
This bill, if enacted, would mark the most sweeping change to U.S. immigration law in decades by refocusing immigration priorities and tightening eligibility standards. It remains to be seen how the measure will advance in the House or gain support from Senate Republicans or the Biden administration.
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