Alabama Republican Rep. Barry Moore has rolled out a new immigration proposal that he says would sharply reshape how people enter the United States, both legally and illegally. In a post on X, Moore framed the bill as a reset of national priorities.
“Today, I introduced the Americans First Immigration Act to overhaul our immigration system. The days of putting illegals, random diversity lotteries and foreign labor ahead of American workers are over. It’s time our system serves Americans again,” he wrote.
According to reporting by Fox News, the legislation is closely aligned with the “America First” immigration agenda associated with President Donald Trump. The bill would narrow legal immigration channels, reduce family-based sponsorship categories, and eliminate the diversity visa lottery, while shifting the focus toward applicants with high-demand skills.
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Moore, who introduced the measure in the House, said the goal is to rewrite parts of the existing immigration law to prioritize U.S. citizens. In comments to Fox News Digital, he doubled down on that message.
“My bill draws a hard line — the days of putting illegals, random diversity lotteries and foreign labor ahead of American workers are over. 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 proposal runs about 70 pages and attempts to turn several past policy moves into permanent law. These include steps taken during Trump’s presidency to tighten legal immigration pathways. In late 2025, Trump moved to pause the green card lottery program following campus shootings, and earlier that year he signed an executive order placing tighter limits on H1B1 visas, which are typically issued for specialized occupations.
Moore argued that entry into the United States should be based on measurable merit rather than chance or loopholes.
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“If you want to come to the United States, you should earn it through merit, not diversity lotteries or loopholes. The Americans First Immigration Act restores fairness and accountability by protecting American jobs, prioritizing the nuclear family and ensuring that every immigrant admitted is prepared to contribute and succeed.”
While the bill calls for scrapping the diversity visa lottery, it keeps a narrow carveout for religious workers, preserving about 3,000 visas annually under that category.
Another major shift in the proposal is the move toward a points-based immigration system. Instead of the current employment visa structure, applicants would be scored on criteria such as English proficiency, education level, salary, age, and even military service.
To qualify, candidates would also need a job offer paying at least double the median wage in the state where they plan to live, along with meeting English language standards.