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President Trump’s ‘America First’ immigration policies would be codified into law under a sweeping new House Republican bill that aims to significantly narrow legal immigration pathways and prioritize high-skilled workers.
Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., has introduced the Americans First Immigration Act, a 70-page bill that would fundamentally restructure the U.S. immigration system by eliminating most family sponsorship categories and ending the diversity visa lottery in favor of a merit-based approach.
“My bill draws a hard line – the days of putting illegals, random diversity lotteries and foreign labor ahead of American workers are over,” Moore said in a statement. “Our immigration system should serve the American people, not undercut them, and that means selecting individuals who will strengthen our economy, respect our laws, and share our values.”
The legislation seeks to codify many immigration policies already implemented during the Trump administration. In December 2025, President Trump paused the green card lottery program following two shootings on college campuses, and last September, he signed an executive order restricting H1B1 visas for specialty occupations.
Immigration continues to be one of the most contentious topics in Washington, with Democrats generally advocating for expanded citizenship pathways while Republicans seek to restrict migration through various measures, including proposals to end birthright citizenship.
One of the bill’s most significant provisions is the replacement of the current employment-based immigration visa program with a points-based merit system. Under this new approach, applicants would be ranked based on factors including English proficiency, education, compensation level, military service, and age.
The bill establishes strict requirements for potential immigrants. All applicants must earn a salary at least 200% above the median wage of the state where they plan to reside and meet English proficiency standards. Additionally, employers must demonstrate they made “good faith steps” to recruit American workers for the position at equal compensation before hiring foreign workers.
Julie Kirchner, a senior advisor at the America First Policy Institute who supports the legislation, highlighted the national security concerns surrounding the visa lottery. “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 U.S.,” she said.
The bill would also require the Department of Labor to oversee employer compliance, including collecting information about American workers who were offered positions and their proposed wages. Migrants offered visas would need to sign a petition pledging support for the U.S. Constitution and disavowing practices like honor killings, female infanticide, or genital mutilation.
While the legislation aims to eliminate the diversity lottery visa, it does preserve the allotment of 3,000 annual visas for religious workers.
Perhaps most controversially, the bill would dramatically curtail family-sponsored immigration, limiting it to spouses of U.S. citizens, minor children, spouses of green card holders, and children of green card holders. Parents, siblings, and adult children of U.S. citizens would be barred from preferential treatment.
Kirchner clarified that extended family members could still apply for immigration status but would need to do so based on their own merit rather than family connections. “What the bill does is eliminate the ability of extended family members to get a preference under the law,” she explained.
The legislation represents one of the most comprehensive attempts to reshape the American immigration system in decades, aligning with the “America First” agenda promoted by former President Trump and his allies in Congress.
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10 Comments
The proposed shift to a more merit-based immigration system is a significant change. I wonder how it will affect industries that rely on foreign talent, like tech and academia.
That’s a good point. Talent attraction and retention could be a challenge if the new policies make it harder for high-skilled workers to immigrate.
Interesting to see the administration codifying its ‘America First’ immigration policies into law. While it may benefit some American workers, we’ll have to see how it impacts the economy and society long-term.
Agreed, it’s a complex issue with pros and cons on both sides. I’m curious to see the debate around this bill and how it evolves.
As someone in the mining industry, I’m curious how this could impact the availability of specialized foreign labor that the sector relies on. Skilled workers from abroad have been important for many projects.
That’s a good point. The mining industry may need to adapt its talent recruitment strategies if these immigration changes go into effect.
While the goal of prioritizing American workers is understandable, I worry that severely restricting family-based and diversity immigration could have unintended negative consequences. We’ll have to see how it plays out.
Agreed, the long-term societal impacts are hard to predict. It’s a complex issue without easy solutions.
This bill seems aimed at fulfilling the administration’s campaign promises, but I question whether it will have the intended economic benefits. Immigration has historically been a driver of innovation and growth.
That’s a fair perspective. It will be interesting to see the economic analysis and projections as this bill moves through the legislative process.