Rep. Andy Ogles Bill Seeks to Curb Family Visas and End Diversity Lottery
Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., a member of the House Freedom Caucus, is introducing a bill that would fundamentally restructure U.S. legal immigration by largely ending so‑called 'chain migration' and eliminating the 55,000‑visa diversity lottery created under the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act. A draft obtained by Fox News says 'all immigration to the United States shall serve the economic, cultural, and security interests of the United States as determined by Congress,' and would shift admissions away from family reunification toward applicants deemed to serve the 'national interest.' The measure would also expand 'good moral character' bars so that mere arrests for domestic violence or driving under the influence, alleged gang affiliation, visa overstays, public‑benefit misuse, and tax delinquency could make people ineligible, with applicants subject to enhanced background checks, social‑media reviews and in‑person interviews. Ogles is explicitly targeting core elements of the Hart‑Celler framework he has criticized as favoring 'third‑world migration,' underscoring a growing strand of conservative skepticism not just of illegal immigration but of current legal pathways themselves.
📌 Key Facts
- Sponsor: Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., a member of the House Freedom Caucus
- The bill would largely end family-based 'chain migration' categories and eliminate the 55,000-visa diversity lottery program
- Expanded 'good moral character' standards would treat certain arrests, alleged gang ties, visa overstays, benefit misuse and tax delinquency as bars to immigration eligibility and citizenship, enforced through enhanced background checks, social-media review and in-person interviews
📊 Relevant Data
The foreign-born population in the United States reached 46.2 million in 2023, accounting for 13.9 percent of the total U.S. population, compared to 9.6 million (4.7 percent) in 1965 before the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
In 2023, the top countries of origin for U.S. immigrants were Mexico (23 percent), India (6 percent), China (5 percent), the Philippines (4 percent), and El Salvador (3 percent), reflecting a shift from predominantly European origins prior to 1965.
Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
Recent immigration flows have had a minimal adverse effect on native-born workers' wages, with some studies showing a slight increase; for example, removing 50 percent of unauthorized immigrants would raise U.S.-born workers' real wages by only 0.15 percent in the short run.
New Research Finds Reducing Immigration Does Not Help U.S. Workers — Forbes
Immigration has contributed to rising housing costs by increasing demand; an inflow equal to 1 percent of a city's population is associated with about 1 percent increases in average rents and housing values.
The Role of the Recent Immigrant Surge in Housing Costs — Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies
Immigrants earn 12 percent lower hourly wages than native-born workers on average nationwide.
Immigrants and the Labor Market — Public Policy Institute of California
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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