No visa lottery, restrictions on family entry: How the ‘America First Immigration Act’ could be a setback for immigrants

The new U.S. immigration bill proposes eliminating the green card lottery and limiting family visas. The goal is to shift more attention to performance-driven systems.The proposed America First Immigration Act, introduced by Republican Rep. Barry Moore, seeks to overhaul the U.S. legal immigration framework by prioritizing high-skilled workers and tightening eligibility rules. If passed, the legislation would end the diversity visa lottery program and limit family sponsorship to immediate family members.Under the bill, U.S. citizens would no longer be able to sponsor parents, siblings or adult children for immigration. Family-based visas are limited to spouses and minor children of citizens, and spouses and children of green card holders. Extended family members can still apply, but only through a merit-based route.“My bill carves a hard line — the days of prioritizing illegal immigrants, random diversity lotteries, and foreign workers over American workers are over,” Moore said in a statement to Fox News.The MAGA leader added: “Our immigration system should work for the American people, not undermine them, and that means selecting individuals who strengthen our economy, respect our laws and share our values.”The 70-page proposal also aims to formalize a number of immigration measures related to U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies. This follows some early actions, such as the suspension of the green card lottery program in December 2025 and the introduction of H1B1 work visa restrictions last year.At the heart of the bill is a move to a points-based system. Applicants are judged based on factors such as their English proficiency, education, salary, age and whether they have served in the military. To qualify, they must have a job offer that pays at least twice the average wage in the state where they plan to live.Employers must also adhere to stricter rules. They must show that they are actually trying to hire American workers before giving jobs to people from other countries. They are required to share details about the U.S. candidates they are considering, including how much compensation is being offered. The Department of Labor will check whether these rules are followed.“If you want to come to America, you should get it through merit, not the diversity lottery or loopholes. The America First Immigration Act restores equity and accountability by protecting American jobs, prioritizing nuclear families, and ensuring that every admitted immigrant is prepared to contribute and succeed. ” Moore told Fox News.The bill also imposes mandatory commitments on arriving immigrants. Applicants are required to affirm support for the U.S. Constitution and renounce association with groups involved in acts such as honor killings, female infanticide, or genital mutilation.Julie Kirchner, senior adviser at the America First Policy Institute, supports the proposal, specifically the move to eliminate the diversity visa program. “The visa lottery has a long, documented history of fraud and national security concerns and should be abolished. Under a merit-based, America-first system, any immigrant would have to demonstrate their skills, ability to assimilate and how they will contribute to the United States,” she said.She added that false declarations by immigrants could result in deportation or even loss of citizenship. “Ideally, the government would have information in advance to prevent these people from immigrating to the United States,” Kirchner said.She added: “However, if a newly arrived migrant’s conduct indicates that the statements he made to our immigration agencies were false, this may be grounds for deportation or denaturalization.”The bill retains limited provisions for religious worker visas, capped at 3,000 per year.